Ray Pack
Technical Sergeant, United States Army

Ray was born on March 9, 1921 in Blaine, Lawrence County, Kentucky to Henry Harrison Pack and Missouri Chandler. He graduated from Blaine High School in 1941 where he was a member of the basketball team. He spent a great deal of his time with his grandfather George Pack on the farm where George and Loucinda lived just outside of Blaine. Ray had an old pocket watch that was given to him by his grandfather George. On the back of the watch is a mark where, supposedly, someone tried to shoot George and the bullet struck the back of the watch that was in his pocket. This watch remains in the possession of Ray's oldest daughter Glenda--the exact age of this watch is unknown at this time. Ray served in the United States Army in World War 11. He entered service July 9, 1942 in Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia and was separated September 14, 1945 from the Separation Center at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. His unit was Battery A, 143rd Field Artillery Battalion--his rank was TEC5; his job specialty was Tractor Driver 93 1. Ms Enlistment Record indicates that his civilian occupation was Light Truck Driver and he was 5'1 1 " tall and weighed 166 pounds with gray eyes and brown hair. His service number was 354-354-90. He served in the following campaigns.- Southern Philippines, Luzon, Bismarck Archipelago. Awards and Decorations which he received are: AsiaticPicific Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars; Philippine Liberation Ribbon with I Bronze Star; Good Conduct Ribbon; World War 11 Victory Medal-Army Service Ribbon; Lapel Button. Dora Mae was born in Louisa, Lawrence County, Kentucky to George Franklin Adkins and Ollie Leah Hewlett. She grew up on a small farm near Five Forks hill until her father moved the family into Louisa in 1940 where he had purchased a home at 715 Adams Street. Dora went to Ashland, Kentucky and was working at the old Greyhound Bus Depot when she and Ray met in August 1945. Ray was on a 30-day leave from the service when he and his brother Arlie came into the bus station that day. They married on January 9, 1946 at about 7:00 p.m. in Preacher J. C. Hager's house with George Pack (brother of Ray) and Willard Adkins (brother of Dora Mae) and Mrs. Hager as witnesses. Ray and Dora lived in Lawrence County where their first two children were born, Glenda Wray and Virginia Leah. In 1950 Ray & Dora moved their family to Prestonsburg, Floyd County, Kentucky to an area referred to as Calf Creek. Ray worked as a bus driver and drove a route up and down the river from Prestonsburg to Wheelwright, Kentucky. There they had Chester Allen, Bill Jim, and Beverly Louise. Ray and his family lived in Westwood, Boyd County, Kentucky sometime between 1953-1959. At one point they lived in a large, two-story home on Wheatly Drive. Ray drove a truck for the Gulf Oil Company which was nearby. Dora attended Nursing School at Our Lady of Belfonte Hospital in nearby Greenup County. The family then moved to Roberts Drive where they lived next door to Dora's brother Ernest and his family. Ray, Dora and family moved back to Louisa about 1960-1961 into a house at 607 Jefferson Street which belonged to Dora's father. Ray drove a truck for the Louisa Supply Company and Dora worked as a nurse at the Riverview Hospital. Ray died suddenly on March 17, 1966 from a heart attack. Ray enjoyed working in a small garden he and Dora planted behind their house. He enjoyed watching the sports his young sons participated in and assisted with the Little League Baseball League. Before Ray died, he delighted in the birth of his first grandchild Cynthia (Cindy) Lynn Dotson--born to his daughter and son-in-law. Ray is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, West, in Louisa, Lawrence County, Kentucky.--Beverly L. Pack (daughter)

Ray Pack photo c. 1998

You may write to me at email Beverly L. Pack