A Life Review

On January 20, 1932, Sylvester and Artense Ray welcomed their third child, Sylvester Ray Jr. into the world.

Sylvester graduated in 1951 from Central High School in Galveston, Texas. He entered the United States Navy, where he served from 1951 until 1955 when he was honorably discharged in Long Beach, California. During his service he was awarded medals for China Service, National Defense Service, United Nations Service, and Korean Service.

After his military service, he worked as a cab driver prior to working as a welder on the assembly line, first at General Motors South Gate Divison and then at the Van Nuys Division until his retirement in 1987. He also drove trucks with his friend John for about 10 years.

Sylvester was an avid Laker, car show and NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) race fan. He enjoyed attending many of the area car shows as well as the races in Pomona and Ontario. He also enjoyed going to the Pomona and Orange County Fairs as well as the Strawberry Festival.

Later in life, he met and married Lou Ritta Covington in 1988. There are no children to this union.

God called Sylvester home on July 27, 2013. He leaves to mourn his loving wife Lou Ritta Covington-Ray; aunts, Rosa Thompson (Galveston, TX) and Alberta Hubbard (Detroit, MI); brothers, Herman Ray (San Francisco, CA), Robert Ray (Galveston, TX) and Donele Bilal (Texas City, TX); sister Ella May Ray Young (Galveston, TX); and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and special friends.