On July 17, 2023, Oren Ray Vess joined his wife in the heavenly choir to sing eternal praises to his Lord and Savior.
Ray was born on the backside of Buckeye Cove on May 22, 1934 to Rev. Lennie Oran and Alberta Mae Wright Vess.
After his days at Swannanoa High School, in 1953 he married the love of his life, Ola Mae Bartlett Vess. They shared 67 years of marriage prior to her death in 2020. They had two children, David and wife Angie of Chadbourn, NC and Donna Vess of East Flat Rock, NC. He had three grandchildren, Emily Graham and husband Josh, Bram Childress, and David, Jr. and wife Sophie. He had one great-grandson Aram Childress.
In 1958 Ray was drafted and served in the U. S. Army. He was a Specialist 4 as a member of the 11th Airborne Division in Company B. He was stationed in Augsburg, Germany. He finished his service as bus driver in the 396th Transportation Company, which gave him the opportunity to travel all over Europe.
Following his discharge from the Army, he began working for Family Finance Services where he would ultimately spend the rest of his career, retiring in 1998. Due to his work ethic, he was promoted and was transferred several times throughout his career. He and his wife loved serving in their local church, she played the piano, while Ray led the choir. At every place they lived they always found a church to serve in the music ministry. This was a priority for them.
In addition to the music ministry, Ray served in many areas of church life. He was a Deacon, Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, Training Union Director, January Bible Study Teacher and he especially loved serving with Operation In As Much and NC Baptist Men. He went on many disaster relief/recovery missions, including a mission trip back to Germany. He also loved playing softball and played on several teams each season well into his 60's.
The family would like to thank all the excellent nurses and caregivers at the NC State Veterans Home in Black Mountain. Ray was also blessed by the compassionate care he received from Four Seasons Hospice, especially his Hospice nurse, Karen Miller.
A celebration of life for Ray and his wife, Ola Mae, will be held jointly at Harwood Home for Funerals on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 1:00pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Because of Covid, no service could be held for Ola Mae when she died on Thanksgiving Day 2020. Ray will be interred at the WNC Veteran's Cemetery on Thursday, July 20, at 2 PM.
Source Citation: Harwood Home for Funerals
Ray was born on the backside of Buckeye Cove on May 22, 1934 to Rev. Lennie Oran and Alberta Mae Wright Vess.
After his days at Swannanoa High School, in 1953 he married the love of his life, Ola Mae Bartlett Vess. They shared 67 years of marriage prior to her death in 2020. They had two children, David and wife Angie of Chadbourn, NC and Donna Vess of East Flat Rock, NC. He had three grandchildren, Emily Graham and husband Josh, Bram Childress, and David, Jr. and wife Sophie. He had one great-grandson Aram Childress.
In 1958 Ray was drafted and served in the U. S. Army. He was a Specialist 4 as a member of the 11th Airborne Division in Company B. He was stationed in Augsburg, Germany. He finished his service as bus driver in the 396th Transportation Company, which gave him the opportunity to travel all over Europe.
Following his discharge from the Army, he began working for Family Finance Services where he would ultimately spend the rest of his career, retiring in 1998. Due to his work ethic, he was promoted and was transferred several times throughout his career. He and his wife loved serving in their local church, she played the piano, while Ray led the choir. At every place they lived they always found a church to serve in the music ministry. This was a priority for them.
In addition to the music ministry, Ray served in many areas of church life. He was a Deacon, Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, Training Union Director, January Bible Study Teacher and he especially loved serving with Operation In As Much and NC Baptist Men. He went on many disaster relief/recovery missions, including a mission trip back to Germany. He also loved playing softball and played on several teams each season well into his 60's.
The family would like to thank all the excellent nurses and caregivers at the NC State Veterans Home in Black Mountain. Ray was also blessed by the compassionate care he received from Four Seasons Hospice, especially his Hospice nurse, Karen Miller.
A celebration of life for Ray and his wife, Ola Mae, will be held jointly at Harwood Home for Funerals on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 1:00pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Because of Covid, no service could be held for Ola Mae when she died on Thanksgiving Day 2020. Ray will be interred at the WNC Veteran's Cemetery on Thursday, July 20, at 2 PM.
Source Citation: Harwood Home for Funerals
On July 17, 2023, Oren Ray Vess joined his wife in the heavenly choir to sing eternal praises to his Lord and Savior.
Ray was born on the backside of Buckeye Cove on May 22, 1934 to Rev. Lennie Oran and Alberta Mae Wright Vess.
After his days at Swannanoa High School, in 1953 he married the love of his life, Ola Mae Bartlett Vess. They shared 67 years of marriage prior to her death in 2020. They had two children, David and wife Angie of Chadbourn, NC and Donna Vess of East Flat Rock, NC. He had three grandchildren, Emily Graham and husband Josh, Bram Childress, and David, Jr. and wife Sophie. He had one great-grandson Aram Childress.
In 1958 Ray was drafted and served in the U. S. Army. He was a Specialist 4 as a member of the 11th Airborne Division in Company B. He was stationed in Augsburg, Germany. He finished his service as bus driver in the 396th Transportation Company, which gave him the opportunity to travel all over Europe.
Following his discharge from the Army, he began working for Family Finance Services where he would ultimately spend the rest of his career, retiring in 1998. Due to his work ethic, he was promoted and was transferred several times throughout his career. He and his wife loved serving in their local church, she played the piano, while Ray led the choir. At every place they lived they always found a church to serve in the music ministry. This was a priority for them.
In addition to the music ministry, Ray served in many areas of church life. He was a Deacon, Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, Training Union Director, January Bible Study Teacher and he especially loved serving with Operation In As Much and NC Baptist Men. He went on many disaster relief/recovery missions, including a mission trip back to Germany. He also loved playing softball and played on several teams each season well into his 60's.
The family would like to thank all the excellent nurses and caregivers at the NC State Veterans Home in Black Mountain. Ray was also blessed by the compassionate care he received from Four Seasons Hospice, especially his Hospice nurse, Karen Miller.
A celebration of life for Ray and his wife, Ola Mae, will be held jointly at Harwood Home for Funerals on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 1:00pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Because of Covid, no service could be held for Ola Mae when she died on Thanksgiving Day 2020. Ray will be interred at the WNC Veteran's Cemetery on Thursday, July 20, at 2 PM.
Source Citation: Harwood Home for Funerals
Ray was born on the backside of Buckeye Cove on May 22, 1934 to Rev. Lennie Oran and Alberta Mae Wright Vess.
After his days at Swannanoa High School, in 1953 he married the love of his life, Ola Mae Bartlett Vess. They shared 67 years of marriage prior to her death in 2020. They had two children, David and wife Angie of Chadbourn, NC and Donna Vess of East Flat Rock, NC. He had three grandchildren, Emily Graham and husband Josh, Bram Childress, and David, Jr. and wife Sophie. He had one great-grandson Aram Childress.
In 1958 Ray was drafted and served in the U. S. Army. He was a Specialist 4 as a member of the 11th Airborne Division in Company B. He was stationed in Augsburg, Germany. He finished his service as bus driver in the 396th Transportation Company, which gave him the opportunity to travel all over Europe.
Following his discharge from the Army, he began working for Family Finance Services where he would ultimately spend the rest of his career, retiring in 1998. Due to his work ethic, he was promoted and was transferred several times throughout his career. He and his wife loved serving in their local church, she played the piano, while Ray led the choir. At every place they lived they always found a church to serve in the music ministry. This was a priority for them.
In addition to the music ministry, Ray served in many areas of church life. He was a Deacon, Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, Training Union Director, January Bible Study Teacher and he especially loved serving with Operation In As Much and NC Baptist Men. He went on many disaster relief/recovery missions, including a mission trip back to Germany. He also loved playing softball and played on several teams each season well into his 60's.
The family would like to thank all the excellent nurses and caregivers at the NC State Veterans Home in Black Mountain. Ray was also blessed by the compassionate care he received from Four Seasons Hospice, especially his Hospice nurse, Karen Miller.
A celebration of life for Ray and his wife, Ola Mae, will be held jointly at Harwood Home for Funerals on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 1:00pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Because of Covid, no service could be held for Ola Mae when she died on Thanksgiving Day 2020. Ray will be interred at the WNC Veteran's Cemetery on Thursday, July 20, at 2 PM.
Source Citation: Harwood Home for Funerals
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