Rev. Raymond Ley, 94

Rev. Raymond Ley, age 94, of Huntingburg, passed away at 5:57 p.m., Thursday, October 20, 2011 at The Waters of Huntingburg.

Raymond Ley, son of Rev. Herman and Ella (Vitz) Ley, was born September 18, 1917 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and was raised in St. Bernard, outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from Lakeland Collage in 1939, received a Master’s Degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in 1940 and graduated from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, in 1944. He married Margaret Kuentzel, also a graduate of Lakeland, in October of 1942.

Raymond began his ministry in Chicago in 1942 where he became Associate Pastor of St. Peters Evangelical Church. In 1949 he moved to Milwaukee where he served Zion U.C.C. for 25 years. Both of these churches involved one congregation worshipping at two locations several miles apart.

In 1974 he moved to Boonville, Indiana where he served for ten years, retiring in 1984. He was then called to serve as part-time Associate Pastor at Salem U.C.C. in Huntingburg. He remained there for 12 years, retiring in 1996 after 54 years in the ministry.

In 2003 he was named Pastor Emeritus of Salem, which also recognized his 61 years of continuing ministry. He also served as part-time Chaplain at The Waters of Huntingburg until entering its assisted living facility in early 2006.

The first 32 years of his ministry were carried out in urban and inner city churches. He served and helped organize a number of unique inner city ministries and organizations. He served 15 years on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Wisconsin Association U.C.C., 21 years on the Board of Directors at Deaconess Hospital, Milwaukee, and 6 years on the board of Good Samaritan Home, Evansville. He also served on the Church Relations Committee of the Deaconess Hospital Foundation Board in Evansville. During the last 3 years of his active ministry, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ.

During his time in Indiana he was very active in working with the aging. He served 6 years on the State Advisory Committee on the Aged and Aging, 10 years on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Indiana Regional Council on Aging, and many years on the Board of Directors of Generations, the agency for aging in this six-county area. He also served on the Board of the Dubois County A.A.R.P., and the County Council on Aging. Raymond was an active member of the Kawanis Club for over 50 years and received numerous awards for his outstanding civic and religious volunteerism.

He is survived by:

Three children – Janet Ley Schnabel of Cathlamet, Washington, Dorothy Ley of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and David Ley of New Canaan, Connecticut

One brother and one sister – Rev. Calvin Ley of Yorktown, Indiana, and Dorothea Evans of Palo Alto, California

Six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Raymond was preceded in death by his wife Margaret Ley, who died July 31, 1990; one son, Thomas Ley; and two brothers – Dr. Ralph Ley and Rev. Harold Ley.

Funeral services for Rev. Raymond Ley will be held at 1:00 p.m., E.D.T., on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at Salem United Church of Christ in Huntingburg with burial to follow at Fairmount Cemetery in Huntingburg. The Rev. Don Giesmann will officiate.

Friends may call for visitation at the Nass & Son Funeral Home in Huntingburg from 4:00-8:00 p.m., Monday; and also at Salem United Church of Christ from 12:00-1:00 p.m., Tuesday, prior to the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, his family suggests donations to either: hospice, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, or a charity of your choice.