Charles W. (Billy) Ray:
CLASS OF 1963
Lamar Consolidated High SchoolClass of 1963
Rosenberg, TX
Lamar Junior High SchoolClass of 1959
Rosenberg, TX
Taylor Ray Junior High SchoolClass of 1958
Rosenberg, TX
Damon Elementary SchoolClass of 1954
Damon, TX
Beasley Elementary SchoolClass of 1953
Beasley, TX
Charles W. (Billy)'s Story
Life
Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1944. Moved to Texas when I was 4 months old. Moved to Missouri and waited for Dad to return from Germany after the War. House burned down in Missouri so we moved to Beasley, Texas in 1947 when I was almost 4. Lived in Beasley, Damon, Beasley and Rosenberg. Joined the Air Force in September 1963.
First Love
In High School, I was madly in love with Suzanne. We dated most of my senior year and through the summer and in August 1963 we got engaged. Knowing I'd need to get my military obligation out of the way, I decided to join the Air Force and get stationed at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston and remain there until Suzanne graduated. I joined and all was well until I was notified that I was volunteered to go to Germany...I was heart broken because I knew I was going to be away for 3 years. That assignment pretty much split Suzanne and I forever. I suppose that if things had gone the way we had hoped in 1963 that she and I would have married and raised a family. Because I was very successful in the military, I most likely would have remained in the service. I haven't seen Suzanne her since March 1964 when I left for Germany. I've always wondered what became of Suzanne. I have asked many people but no one seems to know. Update...found Suzanne on Apr 19, 2008, 44 years and a month after I last saw her.
Where I've Lived
While in the Air Force, I lived in San Antonio, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Hahn, Germany; Wheelus, Libya; Hahn, Germany; Evereux, France; Hahn, Germany; Wheelus, Libya and Hahn, Germany; San Antonio, Texas; Osan, Korea; San Antonio, Texas; Ubon, Thailand; Bitburg, Germany; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; U-Tapao, Thailand; Sumter, South Carolina, and finally, Hahn, Germany where I retired from the Air Force in 1984.
From Germany, I moved several more times while following along with my wife's military career. We lived in Tucson, Arizona, Tabb, Virginia, Clark, Philippines, Austin, Texas; and Tabb, Virginia. Following my wife's retirement from the Air Force, we moved to Sugar Land, Texas.
After my divorce, I moved to Alief/Houston and then to Surgar Land, Texas. Now, in 2008, I'm living in Alief/Houston, Texas.
Married Life
I married a girl named Marlene from France in 1966. We had 2 girls; Adeline (1967) and Elaine (1972). We split up in 1976 and finally divorced after 18 years in 1984. I have 5 grandchildren.
I married a girl named Stephanie from New York in December 1884, and we had 3 children: Theresa 1988, Katherine (1990), and Charles (1993). Divorced after 16 years.
I stayed retired from 1984-1987 and again from 1989 until 1995.
Military Career
My 21-year military career centered around bombs and explosives and safety. Toward the end, I was Safety Superintendent for Hahn Air Base, Germany. I retired at Hahn.
In 1987, I was Safety Director at Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia for 2 and 1/2 years. I quit and followed my wife's military career to the Philippines.
In Texas in 1995, I started delivering records and files in my Astro Van for Eastway Delivery Company in Houston. I had a route and worked about 7 hours a day.
I quit and in 1996 start...Expand for more
ed working at Home Depot where I became a department supervisor. After 5 years in retail and a messed up back to show for it, I took a medical leave of absence. In my spare time after therapy, I made deliveries and after the Doctor sent me back to full time work with no restrictions before I felt I was ready and before my back was healed, so I decided to retire from the retail business.
I was driving my Astro Van part time for DDS but that turned into a full time occupation. I continued driving until 2004. I had to give up that job as well. Pay was good but the hours I spent in the truck and the distance I drove each day was taking a toll on me. I couldn't relax and had little time for myself.
After I quit that job I relaxed at home but soon found a cheap way to travel back and forth to Germany.
After making 14 trips to Europe, in 15 months, I started working part time on the dock helping to get the other drivers loaded and on their way. I worked about 2 hours a day each week.
I still drive part time for DDS... delivering small packages, but none of that "loading my Astro Van from front seat to rear door every day and driving all over God's creation to get the packages delivered"....and its okay like this.
I enjoy life. Since I stopped working October 2004, I have been to Germany about 15 times...crossed the Atlantic 30 times. I will be going again in May or June, 2008. Can't get enough of the culture when I am there.
My life has been Great!!! I do love it. I've been able to do and see so much more than I have ever imagined...Consider this...Who would have ever thought that a boy from Beasley, Texas would have the opportunity to travel and see the world as I have seen it? And believe me, I have been a world traveler since 1963.
Work
Many of you already know that I started working to earn money at an early age. Besides mowing grass in Beasley, I picked cotton and pulled corn on three farms, and candled eggs with Jimmy Gerace in Beasley.
In 1957 when I was about 13, I worked at Simmon's Super Value in Rosenberg for Tony Torres.
In 1962, I worked for Marvin Sliva at Henke & Pilot before the store changed names to Kroger. I was training to be Store Manager when I joined the Air Force on September 16, 1963.
In the Air Force, I trained to be a Munitions Specialist and spent many years working with bombs, missiles, rockets and all kinds of explosives. I was a teacher, a safety supervisor, and dispatcher. I worked with every kind of military weapon you can imagine.
After 18 years I changed career fields and completed my career as a Safety Superintendent.
Summation
I love what I've done in life and enjoy talking about my accomplishments. I enjoyed serving my country and would gladly return to the military and serve my country again if needed. If I had to do something over, I would make sure that I married the girl of my dreams, make her happy in every way, and above all, stayed married to her. Starting over was never my idea of getting it right. I never dreamed that I would start my life over again and again. I expected to be with the same woman all my life. My life, military career, and retirement years have been very rewarding.
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