Joseph Ray

Joseph West Ray, formerly of Upper Arlington died at home on March 26, 2023. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1932, Joe was the son of Earl T. and Laura K. Ray. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) and his PH.D. from The Ohio State University. Joe was an avid genealogist, having published an award-winning, four-volume history of the descendants of Daniel Ray of both Plymouth and Salem, Massachusetts. He was a member of First Community Church (South) as well as the Society of Mayflower Descendants, Sons of the American Revolution, the Flagon and Trencher Society (for descendants of colonial tavern keepers), and the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Joe served for two years in the U.S. Army before joining Battelle Memorial Institute from which he retired in 1994. He served one term on the Upper Arlington City Council and was among the founders of The Edison Welding Institute where he served as its first board chair. He was also a co-founder of Jennifer’s Night Out, a support group for brain tumor patients, survivors and caregivers. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his son Eric Ray of Upper Arlington; his sister-in-law Helen Jordan of Birmingham, Michigan; his nephew Jerry Haitaian of Novi, Michigan; and his niece Susan Swigert of Detroit, Michigan. He is survived by his wife Lucille H. Ray, formerly of Upper Arlington; his daughter and son-in-law Laura and Enio Sebastiani of Belmont, California; his grandsons Eric and Nicholas Sebastiani of California; his brother-in-law Wallace Jordan of Birmingham, Michigan; and his nephews Rick Haitaian of Beverly Hills, Michigan, Andrew Jordan of Chicago, Illinois and Zachary Jordan of Waterford, Michigan. There will be no viewing and Joe has requested no service. Funeral arrangements entrusted to SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST.