Raymond Richard Foss

Raymond Richard Foss, age 91, of Bay Minette, Alabama (previously Daphne, AL) passed away peacefully at home on October 24, 2023, following an extended illness. He was born in Belding, Michigan to Russell and Clara Foss on September 18, 1932. While still in high school, Ray met the great love of his life, Ruth Bradley on New Year’s Eve, 1949 when his best friend asked Ray to drive him and his date to Fremont, MI. Two weeks later Ruth said she, “got tired of waiting,” and called him, and they went on their first date. A little more than a year later in April 1951 they were married. Ray worked for Continental Motors in Muskegon, MI and then when it became Teledyne Continental Motors, he was transferred to Mobile, Al in 1972. He held many different positions at Teledyne and retired as a Purchasing Manager after 43 years. He loved sports and lined several shelves with golf and bowling league trophies. He loved golfing so much that he built one home near a golf course and another so that he could go right out his backyard on to a green. He and his golf cart brought many hours of fun to grandchildren for many years. Ray is survived by three daughters: Linda Arnold (Mark), Diana Rinzema (Daniel), and Melissa Hanby (Daniel), one daughter-in-law: Susan Earl Foss; one daughter-in-heart: Carol Zimmerman; nine grandchildren: Stephanie, Michael, Joseph, Matthew, Thomas, Kimberly, Daniel, Blake, and Mackenzie; and 17 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Foss; his son, Larry Foss; his first granddaughter, Amie Foss; his parents Russell and Clara Foss; his stepmother, Lavina Foss; his brother, Lewis Foss; and his sister, Irene Slosser. As a devoted husband, Ray loved to romance his wife with poems, letters, and flowers. He always brought roses home for his darling wife on his birthday. There could not be a better role model for marriage vows than Ray. He showed his family the meaning of “for better or worse and in sickness or in health,” by lovingly caring for her during the last ten years of her life. Ray made sure his family knew he thought himself blessed to have been married to Ruth. That Ray and Ruth’s marriage blessed many lives was evident by the number of cards and letters they received when they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary two years ago. Many letters from nieces and nephews expressed how Uncle Ray treated them with respect and love even when he had to discipline them. One measure of the respect his three sons-in-law had for Ray is that all three of them asked Ray for permission to marry his daughters. His family say the phrase pillar of strength has meaning because of the way he lived his life. Ray was not a man of many words, but his actions spoke volumes. With his perfectionist personality, everything he did was always done with great skill and precision. He had many talents which he lavished on his children. There was nothing that he wasn’t ready and willing to tackle to help them. A small family gathering is all Ray wanted for a remembrance. He requested to be cremated and have his ashes spread on his favorite lake in MI. He wanted his ashes to be mingled with his wife’s because he always said, “she can’t get away from me that easily.” In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Hospital. Ray will be remembered as a quiet man with a loving heart who was always ready to listen and help in any way he could. If you knew him, you were very blessed; if not, hopefully this will help you understand why his family will miss him greatly. ARRANGEMENTS BY WOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC. 27409 US HWY 98 DAPHNE, AL (251)625-2900 www.wolfefuneralhomes.com