Raymond Clarence "Ray" Knuckles Obituary (1919

Raymond Clarence "Ray" Knuckles age 100 of Bloomington IL passed away at 8:40 AM on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at Heritage Healthcare, Bloomington, IL. His funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Monday, August 26, 2019 at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL. Rev. Rick Tindall will be officiating. Burial will be at Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington, IL, with military rites accorded by the Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard. Visitation will be 10:00 AM-11:00 AM, Monday at the memorial home. The family suggests memorials be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Ray was born June 23, 1919 in Wing, Illinois the son of James C. and Alice Helen Wright Knuckles. He married Mary Earle Marsh on May 10, 1942 at Camp Claiborne, LA. She passed away August of 1962. He later married Betty Wilson Strouse on September 11, 1964 in Bloomington, IL. She survives. Also surviving are his 2 children, Jeffry J. (Barbara) Knuckles, Phippsburg, Maine, Julia Rae (John) Fetter, Springfield, IL, 3 stepchildren, Debra Sue (Jimmy) Maruskin, Morrison, CO, Linda Jo Strouse, Prospect, OR, Roger L. Strouse, San Francisco, CA, 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and several step great-grandchildren and step great-great grandchildren. Ray is preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters, Beatrice Spafford and Janice Bowers. Ray served in the US Army during WW II. He obtained the rank of Lt. Colonel and was a recipient of the two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars. Ray graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois. He had worked at Bloomington Federal Savings & Loan where he was Vice President of Appraisals. He retired in 1984. Ray was a member of Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, IL where he was a former Elder. Ray was a member of the Bloomington Exchange Club. Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com