Ray A. Graves, 83, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at his residence. Ray was born on January 15, 1938 in Vinton County near Ray, Ohio to the late Otis and Clara (Thacker) Graves.

Ray is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda (Parish) Graves of Pandora; two sons, David (Karen) Graves of Mansfield, Ohio, Tim Graves of Colorado Springs, Colorado; a grandson, David Sean Graves of Colorado Springs, a sister Joanne (Larry) Stevens of Chillicothe, Ohio; a brother, Claude (Georgene) Graves of Blacklick, Ohio and a sister-in-law, Julie Huwer Graves of St Mary’s, Ohio.

Ray was preceded in death by three brothers; Keith Graves, Gene Graves, and Don Graves.

After graduating in 1956 from St. Mary's Memorial High School, St. Mary's Ohio, Ray attended The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a member of the Citadel Basketball Team known as "The Blitz Kids" who still hold the best three year record in Citadel basketball history.

Ray's career in education began in 1960 at Chicora High School, North Charleston, South Carolina. In 1968, he returned to Ohio to St. Mary's City Schools. While there, he earned a Master's in Educational Administration and Supervision. Ray served as principal at West Unity Local Schools, Buckeye Valley Local School District and as superintendent at Pandora-Gilboa Local Schools until his retirement in 1998. After retirement, Ray worked for the Ohio Department of Education and served for eleven years as Junior High Principal at Otsego Local Schools. Ray was a lifetime member of BASA (Buckeye Association of School Administrators) and OALSS (Ohio Association of Local School Superintendents).

Ray was also a 32nd degree Mason and was a member of the Zenobia Shriners in Perrysburg, Ohio.

A Celebration of Life for Ray will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, July 23, 2021 at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton. Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Pandora. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Citadel Brigadier Foundation Memorial Fund, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409. Please put on the memo line: In Honor of Ray Graves, 1960. These donations will be used to establish the Ray Graves Basketball Scholarship at The Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.