Ray E. Smith, 88, of Carlisle, died Saturday, June 25, 2011, at his home. He was born on Saturday, March 10, 1923, in Mifflin Twp., and was a son of the late Ervin Ray Smith and Velva E. (Swartz) Smith.

Ray was a 1941 graduate of Carlisle High School and was a US Army veteran of WWII, having served with the 99th Ordinance. He continued serving with the PA National Guard 104th Armored Cavalry and retired as Major with more than 20 years of combined service. Ray retired from the Mechanicsburg Naval Supply Depot after 25 years of service as a systems analyst. He also had worked at the former C. H. Masland & Sons in Carlisle for 10 years.

Ray was a member of First United Methodist Church, Carlisle, where he taught Sunday School for over 50 years and was the Church Historian. He was a former Leader of Boy Scout Troop 160, a history researcher at the Military History Institute, life member of Carlisle Fish & Game Assn., the Gobin Guard and V.F.W. Post 477 in Carlisle. Ray was also a member of the South Mountain American Legion Post 674 in Mt. Holly Springs. He was an avid wood carver and very proud of the hundreds of carvings he made over the many years. His carvings included "The Last Supper" and a full size wild turkey.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Kathryn "Katie" (Long) Smith; one son, Kerry Smith of Winter Springs, Fla.; one daughter, Kimberly Smith Fleming and her husband William Fleming of Carlisle; five sisters, Vera Minnich, Mary Louise Fitzgerald, Rachel Reed, Edna McKillip and Elsie Finkey, all of Carlisle; sister-in-law Prudy Smith of Taunton, Mass.; six grandchildren, Alexander Smith, Jordan Smith, Devin Smith, Sandra Judd, Hillary Fleming and Billie Fleming; five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Ray was preceded in death by four brothers, John, Robert, Richard and Jackie Smith, and one sister, Fredith Wholey.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, in the Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St., Carlisle, with Rev. John L. Shellenberger, Jr., officiating. Burial with military honors by Cumberland County Honor Guard will be in the Westminster Memorial Gardens, Carlisle. Viewing will be held at the funeral home on Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 64 E. North St., Carlisle, PA 17013.

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