William F. “Bill” Ray, 88, of Galena, IL passed away Friday, August 5, 2016 at Galena Stauss Assisted Living. Funeral mass will be 11 AM, Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Galena where friends may call after 9 AM until time of mass. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Military honors will be accorded graveside by the Galena VFW Post #2665 and American Legion Post #193. He was born February 2, 1928 in Peoria, OK the son of Thomas and Dee (Crabtree) Ray. Bill lived in Commerce, OK where he attended and graduated from Commerce High School. He moved to Galena in 1947 to work at Eagle Pitcher Mine alongside his father. Bill served in the United States Army from 1948 until his honorable discharge in 1951. Following his military service he moved to Galena and back to work at the mine as a master electrician. He married Darlene Greibe on March 6, 1954 and she survives. After the closing of Eagle Pitcher Mine he worked as an electrician for John Deere and the Army Corp of Engineers in Canton, MO and later Dubuque, IA until his retirement in 1986. In his younger years he enjoyed playing sports and attending the New York Yankee and Chicago White Sox games. Bill was an avid coin collector and gardener. He loved repairing engines, appliances or anything electrical. Bill was a member of the Quapaw Tribe in Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife, Darlene, two children, Daniel (Karla) Ray of Edgerton, WI, Sherry (Marc) Buswell of Rewey, WI, seven grandchildren, Josh (Alex) Ray, Sarah (Dave) Milestone, Corey Ray, Samantha (Billy Mumm) Buswell, Shelby Buswell, Dalton Ray and Sydnie (Dominic Straka) Buswell, nine great-grandchildren, Preston, Myla, Skye, Kailin, Ali, Kellen, Rosalee, River and Malaysha, two brothers, John (Nancy) and Vernon (Geri) Ray, two sisters, FayeNelle Plummer and Deanna McCarthy, two brothers in-law, Phillip and John Greibe, a sister in-law, Beatrice O’Neill. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Thomas, Anawake and Charles, a grandson Michael Buswell. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff at Galena Stauss Assisted Living and Hospice of Dubuque your care and kindness will never be forgotten.