Obituaries
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April 10, 1930 – March 2, 2014 Longtime Resident of Alameda
Ray suddenly and unexpectedly entered into eternal peace on March 2, 2014. He was preceded in death by Fern, his loving wife of 42 years, whom he cared for during her 10-year struggle with Alzheimer’s. Ray is survived by his children James (Sue) Gaul, Pamela (Bob) Gaul Loudy, and Gary (Robin) Gaul, granddaughters Katie (Lee) Loudy Wright, Janelle (Mark) Gaul Fisk, Kristin (Geoff) Loudy Madding, and great granddaughters Amelia and Ella. His nephew, Jack Tillings, and niece, Teri Gaul, in Canada, also survive him. Ray was very close to his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Joan and Richard Jessen, nephew Mike Jessen, niece Cathy (Buzz) Jessen-Cruce, great nephews Jacob and Jared, as well as great niece Jenna.
Ray was born during the Great Depression in Calgary, Canada of American parents. He was the fourth child in his family of eight. In 1935, his family accepted a homestead in northwestern Alberta. In 1941, his father, a railroad engineer, lost his life in a train collision. Soon after, Ray went out on his own. He served in the Merchant Marines from 1945 to 1949, and then moved on to tug boating on San Francisco Bay. He joined the Air Force in 1950 when the Korean War started, serving four years on active duty and 13 years in the reserve.
Ray joined the Alameda Police Department in 1955 and then moved on to the Oakland Police Department in 1958, where he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was a proud member of the Oakland Police Motorcycle Drill Team, and the Municipal M o t o r c y c l e Officers Club. In 1967, Ray was wounded in a shooting, and in 1969 he was retired as a result of injuries incurred in the line of duty.
He then worked as a corporate risk/safety manager for the Hearst Corporation. During this time he also owned and operated the Factory Restaurant in Alameda, Fantasy Island Costumes in San Francisco and a patrol and investigation business. Ray was a Friday, April 11, at 2 p.m. at Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services, 2694 Blanding Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray’s memory may be made to either Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or the Martin Kauffman 100 Club of Alameda County, 767 Brannan Place, Concord, CA 94518.
Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services FD 1408 www.greermortuary.com 865-3755
Nov. 16, 1938 – April 1, 2014
Born in Bayonne, N.J. on Nov. 16, 1938, Barry passed peacefully in his sleep at his home in Oakland, on April 1, 2014. Barry relocated to Alameda to continue his service with the U.S. Navy after serving abroad in Italy where he met Francesca, his wife of 56 years.
He is survived by Francesca along with his three daughters, Silvana, Lisa and Jennifer, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. During his military service, he was thrice awarded medals of good conduct as well as the National Defense Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal before his retirement after 20 years of active service. Barry’s passion for education and opera will forever be remembered and cherished by his family.
Above all, he loved his family by whom he will be missed and remembered.
Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services FD 1408 www.greermortuary.com 865-3755
Born in London, England on May 18, 1930, to the late Victor and Teresa Rich, David passed away on April 4, 2014, at his home in Alameda with his family by his side.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Shelia W. Rich, children, Julie (Kevin) Thomas and Glen Rich, grandchildren, Christopher (Kristen) Thomas, Jenifer Thomas and Andrew (Debra) Thomas and great-grandchildren, Melissa, Victoria, David, Avery, Braden, Kelsey, Karlie and Colin Thomas. He loved his family, and will be dearly missed.
David served two years in the Royal Air Force, was a Meteorologist at Heathrow Airport in London, a Broker with Lloyds of London, an Executive Underwriter at Hartford Insurance Company and retired from Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company as vice president. He was a member of The Salvation Army, where he served as a Corps Sargent Major in Oakland for 15 years, holding various positions as Band Master, Chaplain and Lay Minister.
He was an avid amateur inventor, enjoyed model boat making and piloting boats, and was a talented musician.
Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation today, Thursday, April 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the Funeral Service on Friday, April 11, at 10 a.m. all held at Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services, 2694 Blanding Ave., Alameda. He will be laid to rest at Cypress Lawn in Colma.
Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services FD 1408
www.greermortuary.com 865-3755
