Delma (Walker) Ray

Delma (Walker) Ray passed away on October 3, 2015. A Memorial service will be held at Silvercrest at Deer Creek, 13060 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66213 at 1:00 p.m.

Delma was born January 21, 1918 in Pilot Point, TX. She was an identical twin in a family of 6 children. Delma accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior when she was 9 years old. She loved to read her Bible and she memorized scriptures daily for as long as she was able. She daily applied Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths".

After graduating from Cushing High School in Cushing, OK, she and Velma were the first of her family to attend college. Delma believed in the importance of getting an education. She attended Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, OK and met Roy F. Ray. She received her BA degree from Bethany. On August 11, 1940 she and Roy were married in the home of her parents in Cushing, OK. Then they began their ministry together.

Delma was a Public Elementary School Teacher for many years. Her first year of teaching was in a one room school house. Her daughter, Carol, was one of her 1st grade students in that "1st through 8th grade" room. Even while teaching, and assisting her husband in ministry, they started the Presbyterian Church in Raytown, MO in a skating rink. Then they started the Haysville Presbyterian church in the basement of their home. Along with all these responsibilities, she continued her own education. She eventually earned her Master's Degree in Education from Emporia State University in Emporia, KS.

Her life was one of dedication and service. She was a supportive Pastor's wife, a caring elementary school teacher, a loving mother, and a special friend to numerous others. She devoted her entire life to showing love and compassion to everyone she met. She never knew a stranger because "a stranger was just a friend that she had not yet met".

Delma did not realize the impact of her life on others. When her husband
of 59 ½ years passed away, she told Carol that she knew "Roy", had touched thousands of lives. However, she questioned what she had really done with her life. Little did she realize the impact she had made not only in the life of her husband and her family, but also in the lives of everyone with whom she came in contact. Even in the last years of her life, she shared her love and gratitude by saying "Thank you" and "I love you" to the staff members who assisted her throughout each day.

She was preceded in death by her parents (Henry B. and Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" Walker), two brothers (Don and Willis Walker), three sisters (Lucille Thrasher, Elva Tuttle, and her identical twin sister Velma Howerton), husband (Dr. Roy F. Ray), infant son (Roy Ray, Jr.), and daughter (Dorothy "Dottie" Hamlin).

She is survived by her daughter, Carol (Kenneth) Sonnevik of Olathe, KS, son-in-law, Craig Hamlin of Leawood, KS, four grandsons, Mark (Michelle) Thielenhaus, Timothy (Evelyn) Thielenhaus, Cory (Shannon) Hamlin, Jason (Rachel) Hamlin, six great grandchildren (Emily, Crystal, Bryden, Chantel, Travis and Mitchell), many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be given to:
"Salvation Army, Billings MT";
"Roy & Delma Ray Scholarship Fund", Sterling College, Sterling, KS; or
"Roy & Delma Ray Scholarship Fund", Friends University, Wichita, KS.