He was 94.

Mr. Ray is survived by his wife of 69 years, Celestia Bishop Ray; a son, Joffre Wesley Ray Jr. of Durham; two daughters, Anne R. Predmore of Campobello and Gwen Ellen Ray of Durham; two grandsons; two great-grandchildren; two nephews; a great-nephew and three great-nieces. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles Wesley and Minnie Lee Ray, and his sister, Margaret Ray Williams.

Mr. Ray was born in Carrboro and attended Carrboro and Chapel Hill schools. He graduated from Durham High School, attended Gardner-Webb University on an athletic scholarship and later graduated from Croft Business College.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy in the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. He also served in the Korean Conflict in the Bureau of Mines in Yorktown, Va.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in downtown Durham. A reception will be held in the church parlor after the service. Burial in old Maplewood Cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Durham Animal Protection Society, 2117 East Club Boulevard, Durham, N.C. 27704.

Online condolences may be sent to www.hallwynne.com, select obituaries.

Hall-Wynne Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.