Raymond P. Ratay, 77, of Miamisburg, OH, passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at Cleveland Clinic. He was born Sept. 8, 1935, in East St. Louis, IL, to the late Andrew and Josephine, nee Leszkowicz, Ratay.

Ray was a devout Catholic beginning his spiritual journey with St. Adalbert Parish of East St. Louis, IL, and then membership with Our Lady of Good Hope, Miamisburg, OH in 1964. Ray was a 1953 graduate of Assumption High School, East St. Louis, IL, and continued his education by graduating from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Chemistry. He began his career as a chemist, technical editor and patent developer at Good Year Atomic Energy of Portsmouth, OH then went to the Mound Lab in Miamisburg, OH for 35 years and finally retired from the Department of Energy Consulting and Declassification in Washington D.C. Ray dedicated much of his life to his community through his church but also helped to create the Miamisburg Department of Energy Mound Museum and served on the Board of Elections as well as the School Board. Ray loved gardening, collecting stamps and coins and being a blood donor. He will always be a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Stanley Ratay, Joe Ratay and Matthew Ratay; sisters, Stephanie Kritis, Mary (Carl) Norton, Anna Ratay and Helena Ratay; and brothers-in-law, John Rolf and Ronald Bowes.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Judy, nee Dettwiller, Ratay; his children, David (Ellen) Ratay of Kettering, OH, Jennifer Ratay of Dayton, OH, Mary Christina (Neil Jensen) Ratay of British Columbia, Susan (Paul) Couch of Springboro, OH, and Jonathan (Christy Lipps) Ratay of Cincinnati, OH; brothers, John Rataj and Gene Ratay; sister, Sharon Sturgeon; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Ratay; Bette Quesenbery, Gloria Rolf, Cheryl Bowes and Margie (David Bussler) Dettwiller; brothers-in-law, Ray Kritis and Charles (Roseann) Dettwiller; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and his grandchildren, Alex, Rachael, Jocelyn, Lauren and Jason.