Ray Ernest McBride, Jr. age 87, passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, with his wife and children by his side. Ray was born August 31, 1929 in Columbus, Kansas to Ray and Flossie (Crowder) McBride. He attended school in Columbus, Kansas and graduated from Cherokee County Community High School with the class of 1949. He and Betty Sandella were married April 24, 1954 at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Scammon, Kansas, and spent nearly 63 years together. He was a lifetime resident of Columbus, except for eight years spent in Topeka, Kansas.
He proudly served his country in the US Navy aboard the Battleship USS Iowa BB 61 in the Korean waters during the Korean conflict. He was a former employee of Junge’s Baking Company of Joplin, Missouri, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Pittsburg, Kansas, and Vickers Hydraulic plant in Joplin, Missouri, where he worked for 25 years as a machinist until the plant closed in 1987. Upon closing of the plant, he was asked by Vickers to go to the company’s Statesville, North Carolina plant, where he spent six months to set up specialty machines and train personnel on their use.
He and his wife Betty moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1991 where he went to work for the Kansas Dept. of Revenue until retiring due to his medical health in 1998.
Ray and his wife Betty owned and operated McBride Concessions. A business they owned for 27 years (their night time job), serving students and the public at the Columbus High School ballgames and track meets. They also operated a concession stand each year during the Cherokee County Fair. One of his fondest memories was giving babies their first taste of cotton candy.
Ray was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church of Columbus. He was a 66 year-member of the Columbus American Legion Post #3, and a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars of Columbus, Post #1372.
He is survived by his spouse Betty, daughter Ruth and son-in-law Mike Hall of Olathe, Kansas, Son Wesley Ray and daughter-in-law Pam McBride of Sherman, Texas. Two granddaughters Kimberly McBride of Krum, Texas, and Jennifer McBride of Sherman, Texas, and one grandson Matthew Hall of Kansas City, Missouri. His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy and he enjoyed every minute he spent with them.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Flossie McBride, brother Wesley V. McBride of Savannah, Georgia, and sister Juanita (McBride) Ness of Kansas City, Missouri.
Burial is under the direction of the Derfelt Funeral Home in Columbus. Rosary will be held at the funeral home Friday January 20, 2017 at 7:00 PM. The family will meet friends following the rosary. Burial mass will be at St. Rose Catholic Church Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 10:00 AM. Father Jeremy Huser will officiate. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery in Columbus.
Contributions may be made to St. Rose Catholic Church of the Columbus Community Foundation.
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