Newton Ray

Mr. Newton Hardman Ray, Sr. of 1111 Main Street, Colonial Suite at Stratford House passed away on June 19, 2015 at Danville Regional Medical Center. He was born on August 18, 1931 to James Wilmer Ray and Genevieve Hazelwood Ray of Danville. He was married for 55 years to his high school sweetheart Martha Fitchett who predeceased him on February 6, 2010. Mr. Ray is survived by son, Newton H. Ray, Jr. and wife Martha Evans Ray and grandchildren Ann Stuart, Meredith and Newton III of Danville and son Christopher Hyde Ray and wife Joie Potter Ray and grandchildren Davis, Louise, and Linnell of Columbia, SC. He was predeceased by an infant daughter, Anne Stuart Ray. He was also predeceased by a sister, Genevieve Ray Minor and a brother James W. Ray, Jr. Newton graduated from Woodberry Forest in 1950 and then went on to graduate from Washington and Lee University in l954. While at Washington and Lee, he was a proud brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. After graduation, he joined the US Army Signal Corp, and was stationed in Pirmasens, Germany where he and his new bride, Martha lived for three years. Upon returning, he joined the family business, Coca Cola Bottling Company until his retirement in 1970. After retirement, he became more involved in his hobby of horticulture, landscape design, and put up his first small greenhouse at his home. He was a founding member of the Men's Horticulture Club, and was instrumental in the early stages of City Beautiful and Keep Virginia Beautiful for which Danville won an award from Keep America Beautiful and he organized a trip for the group to travel to New York City to receive the award. He designed the blueprints, as a volunteer, for the entire landscape for Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute and enlisted the help of the Key Club from GW High School, with the help of his son Chris, to plant pine trees as a buffer around the property. His hobby of growing plants developed into a business with his son, Newton. In 1981, he built several greenhouses at his home and named them Raywood Greenhouses after it. In that same year, they opened Meadors & Ray Garden Center, until 1987, supplying the plants from Raywood Greenhouses. Finally, in 1988 he and his son, Newton opened Raywood Landscape Center where he remained active until his death. Throughout his life, he was a member of the Danville Golf Club, German Club, Young Men's Club, Ducks Unlimited, Men's Horticulture Club, and City Beautiful. He was an avid reader of mystery, history, and war books and he loved to have a discussion about most anything. He was a lifelong member of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church. Memorial donations may be made to the Danville Life Saving and First Aid Crew, Inc., Mount Vernon United Methodist Church or to the charity of your choice. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. from the Townes Memorial Chapel with the Reverend Barry Foster officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Burial Park. The family will be at the residence of his son, Newton H. Ray, Jr. and wife Martha at 131 Canterbury Road. Townes Funeral Home and Crematory, 215 West Main Street is serving the Ray family.