Ray Sulfridge

Ray was 98 years old, and lived in Mountain Home, Idaho with his wife and daughter.  He died Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 12:02 A.M. in his home.

Ray was born in Crab Orchard near Coeburn, Virginia to Fletcher and Lillie Sulfridge on June 10, 1927.  He liked to tell people he was born in the year Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs, and Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic.  He attended Coeburn High School until he ran away to join the Navy in the fall of 1943. The recruiter recognized he was underage but said, “You are big enough and ugly enough and I won’t say anything if you won’t.” He served on the USS San Diego and fought in many famous battles.  His ship was the first to sail into Tokyo Bay where he witnessed the signing of the surrender of the Japanese.

He arrived home at the ripe-old age of 18 where he met and married Margaret Nan McReynold on October 14, 1946, in Whitesburg, Kentucky.  He worked various jobs and they had their first son, Steve Allen at home on October 5, 1947, as the baseball world series blared on the radio.  Dissatisfied with the jobs available to him, they headed east to Langley, Virginia where he enlisted in the Army Air Corps which very soon became the United States Air Force.  His first and favorite job in the Air Force was in the motor pool where he taught himself to be a very good truck driver.  He was involved in crash recovery up and down the East Coast.  His family grew to include a second son, Hubert Randal.  The family moved to Okinawa, then to New York, then Texas, next they moved to Oklahoma where their daughter Donna Rae was born. In that time, he obtained his high school GED and took classes at the newly built Air Force Academy to become a Master Instructor in the Field Training Detachment. During his training his speech teacher called him the “Will Rogers” of the class. Then on to Kansas and then Misawa, Japan.  His final duty station was at Mountain Home Air Force Base where he retired as a Master Sargeant in 1967.

Ray became an insurance salesman for State Farm and eventually he and Margaret ran their own “Ray Sulfridge Insurance Agency” in Boise, Idaho.  But he was restless and frustrated with sales.  He returned to the job he loved most- truck driving. He hauled steel for Yanke Machine Shop.  He worked for construction companies like Peter Kiewit, Morrison-Knudsen and finished his career at Western Construction. He retired from the Teamsters around 1990.

He was very private regarding his faith. In his childhood Ray had perfect attendance at Sunday School.  He enjoyed bluegrass gospel music on Sunday evenings.  He was active as a Mason for few years while stationed in Japan.

Ray and Margaret enjoyed bowling together and he loved taking his beautiful wife out for the evening.  They shared a love of music and remained proud of their Virginia roots. They shared a love of exploration in the family car. Ray decided to settle in the gorgeous state of Idaho.  Many of his happiest days were spent exploring, camping and fishing with his family in this great state. He was very proud of the fact that he helped build many of the major roads in Southern Idaho and beyond. He enjoyed watching football, especially Boise State.  He loved his NASCAR especially with his son Randy.

Ray was a wonderful provider for his family.  While in the military he took a second job several times to provide extra for them. He was a bus driver on weekends while in Bryan, Texas. He was a train conductor at an amusement park in Kansas (this was a favorite for his children), and he managed the NCO Club in Japan.  He and his son Steve rode motorcycles there. Ray and Margaret supported all their children in Scouting. They were active in his son Randy’s baseball, and they made sure Randy got the guitar he wanted so badly at Christmas. Ray escorted his daughter Donna to the Father/Daughter Girl Scout Banquet.  He helped each of his children get their first car with the stipulation that they pay for gas, insurance and up-keep.  Ray and Margaret’s dream was for their children to go to college so they would have a better life.  All three went to college.

Ray is survived by his wife of 79 years, Margaret Sulfridge, his two daughters-law Rose Sulfridge, Barbara Sulfridge and his daughter Donna Rae Sulfridge. In addition, his grandchildren; Jeralynne and her husband Daniel Bobinski, Marc and his wife Melissa Sulfridge, Gloria and her husband John Kopp, Heather and her husband Mike Luchte, and Virginia and her husband Jim Imlah.  Also, his three baby sisters Ruth Finney, Sandra Miner and Shirley Medinas.  And his great-grandchildren, George Kopp, Abbey Amburn, Abigail Sulfridge, Trinity Luchte, Reagan Luchte, Randal Imlah, Sean Sulfridge, Alex Sulfridge, Randal Imlah, Alden Imlah, and Alexandria Sulfridge.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents Fletcher and Lillie Sulfridge and his two sons, Steve Allen Sulfridge and Hubert Randal Sulfridge.  In addition, his siblings Clara and her husband and Dad’s pal Ralph McReynolds, Edna Sulfridge, George Sulfridge, James Sulfridge, Gerald Sulfridge, and William Sulfridge.

A graveside service will be held at 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home, Idaho. Jim Blanksma of Open Door Fellowship will be officiating. A memorial service will follow at Open Door Fellowship at 402 East Second North in Mountain Home followed by a light luncheon there.

Flowers may be sent to Open Door Fellowship.  In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to Samaritan’s Purse.

The family of Ray Sulfridge wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Crossly, Nurse Jan, Nurses Betsy and Jane and all the CNAs of Horizon Health Care.  Special thanks go to Heather Carver our Sunday caregiver. We also thank the members our church family at Open Door Fellowship who came through in too many ways to number.  Special thanks to Rose Juarez who went far beyond her regular duties as our housekeeper.