Raymond Eugene Molitor

Ray Molitor, 94, a longtime Ephrata resident, passed away Oct. 22, 2007. Ray was bom in 1913 in Pendleton, Ore., of a Luxemburg immigrant father named Eugene and his Irish mother Helen Collins. Ray's dad, fluent in six languages, was a banker and insurance agent. He also was a professional winemaker, opera singer and choir director who had sailed to the U.S. with his friend and opera singer Enrico Caruso.

After Ray's early grade school years in Walla Walla, the family moved to Spokane when his father left banking to open an insurance office and also work for the Catholic Church. Ray was raised the eldest son of four. Their home in the Irish neighborhood on Boone Avenue was later demolished to become part of Gonzaga University's campus. Ray attended Gonzaga Prep where he was an all-city football selection. A 1935 graduate of GU in philosophy and chemistry, he played football and was also a member of the famous Gonzaga Glee Club. Interestingly, his lifelong friend and GU teamate Dr. John Kearns, also raised his family in the Ephrata vicinity. Their G-Prep team is recognized in Ripley's Believe-It-or-Not for going undefeated and unscored upon for two consecutive years.

Ray met his sweetheart and wife of 64 years, Ginny Rooney, on a bus returning from Coeur D'Alene where he was playing semi-pro baseball. A lifetime entrepreneur, Ray had businesses in Spokane as a homebuilder and restauranteur. After having their first three children, Ray was called to serve in WW II. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, the world's largest infantry base, assigned to the tank destroyer division. He later served as athletic director for the special services. There he played baseball with many major league professionals. At the end of the war, Ray was offered a major league coaching contract but returned to the northwest, where he completed his family with two more sons.

Ray founded, operated and sold a successful logging and saw mill business in Troy, Ore. In 1948 he bought Quincy Brick and Mix and later merged with Ephrata's Empire Concrete. They poured much of the ditch lining for the Columbia Basin Project and employed many migrating families waiting for new farm units. Their largest project was Grand Coulee Dam's third powerhouse foundation. Ray ended his working career by developing a 100-acre orchard at the base of the Frenchman Hills.

Ray belonged to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, fourth degree. He was a charter member of Lakeview Golf and Country Club, several times their club champion, and played in an exhibition there with Byron Nelson in 1951. His best friend, hunting and golfing partner was local Judge Jim Wickwire.

For those who know Ray, it was appropriate that his death came 15 years to the day after he "shot his age" for the first time on the golf course (a 79 at Spokane's Indian Canyon at age 79). He was blessed to live in his home of 57 years until the day prior to his death.

Ray is survived by his brother Bob, his five children, Pat (and Judy) of Moses Lake, Steve (and Chris) of Ephrata, Mary Ann of Lakeview, John of Ephrata, Skip (and Amy) of Walla, Walla and Godson Dr. Dennis Kearns of Moses Lake, 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and two nephews, Jim Rooney and Father Bob McNeese, both of Spokane. Funeral is 11 a.m. Saturday, with a Rosary 6:30 p.m. Friday, at St. Rose Church. Donations may be made to St. Rose of Lima School in Ray's memory.