More detail on this person: SALEM -- Umatilla native Richard "Pat" Paul Bray, 72, a retired
Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and longtime employee of the Marion County Sheriff's Department,
died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003.
The funeral will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service, 605 Commercial St., S.E. at
Oak in Salem.
The youngest of 12 children, Mr. Bray was born July 31, 1931, at Umatilla. He grew up in Umatilla
and graduated from Umatilla High School.
In 1950, he joined the Marine Corps, serving in the Korean War, where he received two Purple Hearts.
After the Korean war he was commissioned as an officer and attended flight school. He served in
Vietnam during 1964-65, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also a member of the
Commander Helicopter Squadron of HMH-363 at Santa Ana, Calif. He retired from the Marines in 1973
after 23 years of service.
The family returned to Oregon where he worked for the Marion County Sheriff's Department and retired
from private business in 1994.
Survivors include his wife, Willa; sons, Barry and Rodney, both of Salem, and Dale of Eugene; six
grandchildren; brothers, Walter of San Jose, Calif., and Bruce of Albany; and sister, Fern Rhode of
Las Vegas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Oregon Affilliate, Inc.,
380 S.E. Spokane St., No. 110, Portland, OR 97202.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association