Carroll Raymond Bryan Jr., a.k.a. Ray Bryan, died on July 23, 2019, at the Life Care Center in Acton after several months of failing health.

He was born August 1, 1926, in Little Rock, Arkansas and was the son of the late Carroll Raymond and Myrtle Aline (Henson) Bryan.

During his school years, he attended 26 grade schools and 13 high schools due to moves for Depression jobs for his father.

Ray served in the U.S. Army Air Corps for two years during World War II. His testing for the Air Corps yielded the highest recorded grade.

He enrolled at the University of Alabama as an aeronautical engineering student where he taught a freshman algebra class. As a college junior, he married Marion James Bryan. His first job post college was in Hampton, VA at NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) where he researched airplane functions. His fine tenor singing voice eventually lured him with his family of four children to study in New York while working at Republic Aviation.

An employment opportunity offered in New England brought him to Bedford in 1956 to live and to work various jobs as an engineer and tenor soloist.

He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Bedford. As a volunteer, he designed the sanctuary building for the First Baptist Church which had its groundbreaking ceremony in 1962.

During the engineering slump of the seventies, his focus turned to art, with Ray producing an array of pen and ink sketches. His prints were sold from Maine to Miami to support his wife and seven children.

Upon retirement, he assisted a household charity in Acton with curbside pickup of items.

After being involved in a severe motor vehicle accident, he turned to writing and traveled around Bedford via an electric powered wheelchair.

A memorial service will take place at the First Baptist Church of Bedford, 155 Concord Rd., Bedford, on Wednesday, September 11, at 2:30 PM.