Raymond E. Westmoreland August 24, 1943 - February 21, 2024

Raymond E. Westmoreland
1943 – 2024

Ray Westmoreland, recently from Paso Robles, passed away on February 21st at the age of 80. He courageously fought a long battle with heart disease and other physical complications of aging.
He was born in Everett, Washington and was the son of the late Tom and Betty Westmoreland. Ray grew up in Greeley Hill and graduated from Mariposa High School in 1961. He also received an Associate of Science degree in electronics from Modesto Junior College.
After high school Ray worked as a seasonal firefighter for two seasons. He also worked as a drill setter in a tunnel that was being dug under Hetch Hetchy Dam down the mountain to early intake, nine miles away. Next he worked for a lumber company in the woods and finally at the mill.
Westmoreland enlisted in the Navy in July of 1964 and served on the USS Oriskany, an aircraft carrier stationed off the coast of Viet Nam. He reached the rank of Second Class Petty Officer.
Following his discharge in 1968, he returned home and one month later and married his sweetheart, Myrna Osborne, and enjoyed almost 55 years of marriage.
They moved to Modesto where Myrna taught at Davis High School for 38 years.
Following retirement in 2003 they moved to Mariposa and enjoyed visiting Yosemite regularly and driving their four-wheel drive vehicles into remote areas.
Ray’s wife, Myrna, preceded him in death just two years ago and he is survived by his brother Russell Westmoreland of Paso Robles, his sister-in-law Barbara Gustafson of Turlock, and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews and cousins.
Ray was a member of the Davis Park Church of Christ in Modesto as well as a member of the Mariposa Church of Christ during the time that they lived there.
Ray was best known for his quick-witted humor, fierce determination and generous spirit.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 30th at Allen Mortuary, 247 N Broadway, Turlock, CA at 10:30a.m. A reception will follow across the street at the Carnegie Arts Center at 250 North Broadway in Turlock.