Shirley “Ray” Newboles was born in Lake City, Ark., to Arlie and Edna (Cavins) Newboles. The family later moved to Shafter, Calif., when he was 13 years old. He worked the fields in the valley picking cotton, grapes, peaches and hoeing potatoes.
Ray joined the United States Marine Corps at 17, eventually, serving in China, Guam, Korea (Chosin Reservoir), Japan and Vietnam. He also served as a drill instructor for four years in San Diego, Calif., and Parris Island, S.C. After 20 years of proud service, Ray retired from the USMC and worked for the Washington Department of Motor Vehicles as a driver’s license examiner and also as a fuel truck driver for Washington Irrigation and Development Company in Centralia.
His interests included playing the guitar, square and round dancing and spending time with his family. Ray was an excellent pool player. He married Bonnie Hayton in Long Beach, Calif., in 1952, and they had three children, Julie (Dwight) Tupper, Frank (Katie) Newboles and Dean Newboles (deceased); five grandchildren, Annie (Paul) Robinson, Kyle (Anna) Tupper, Daniel (Amy) Tupper, Sara Newboles (Sean Vidanage) and Kurt (Becca) Newboles; seven great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter on the way.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship.
