Howard Ray, 93, retired military, died Sunday. Howard was born on December 22, 1918 at East Point, Georgia, the youngest of five children to Howard Ray and Dora Giles Ray. His father died when he was only six, thus he relied heavily on the influence of his older sister Florence who married a Baptist preacher. He entered the US Army at an early age and dutifully sent most of his pay home to his paralyzed mother. He met and married his wife Frances Townsend in 1942, and she was the love of his life! Together they embarked upon Howard's military career, and raised five children who survive him, Sheila, Howard Jr., Cynthia, Roderick (Kyoung A.) and Michael (Danielle). Howard's military career and employment as an aircraft mechanic at Tinker Air Force Base spanned over forty years. The family traveled throughout the US, England, Germany and Japan. M/Sgt. Ray was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Howard loved watching football, baseball, basketball and the news on TV. Local and national news was often discussed at the dinner table, which wasn't served until all their children were seated at the table. Howard and Frances insisted that all of their children get preferably a college education, and there was no alternative discussion on that issue. He also insisted their children be able to take care of themselves. Corpus Christi Catholic Church, where he was a member for fifty-three years, was the family's home away from their residence. "Grandpa" believed in hard work. He encouraged not only his grandchildren but anyone to do their best, got to church and to vote. Despite all of his medical afflictions in life, he continued to smile, and to help anyone he could. In addition to his children, Howard left behind his grandchildren, Jason Hutchinson, Asha Hutchinson, Angelique Cole, Jessica Ray, Joshua Ray, Tiffany Harris, Samone Willis, Frances Ray, Janelle Harper, and Michael Ray, Jr. He also left behind his nieces, Sylvia Daniels, Elnora Davis, both of Atlanta; nephews, Rudolph Moore of Atlanta and Ron Ray of Houston, Texas. Also left to cherish his memory were a host of other relatives and friends.