Ray Ernest McBride

Ray Ernest McBride Jr., age 87, passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2017, at Freeman Hospital, Joplin, Mo., with his wife and children by his side.
Ray was born August 31, 1929, in Columbus, Kan., to Ray and Flossie (Crowder) McBride. He attended school in Columbus and graduated from Cherokee County Community High School with the class of 1949.
He and Betty Sandella were married April 24, 1954, at St. Bridget's Catholic Church, in Scammon, Kan., and spent nearly 63 years together.
He was a lifetime resident of Columbus, except for eight years spent in Topeka, Kan.
He proudly serviced his country in the U.S. Navy aboard the battleship, USS Iowa BB61, in the Korean waters during the Korean Conflict. He was a former employee of Junge's Baking Company, of Joplin, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, of Pittsburg, Kan., and Vickers Hydraulic Plant, in Joplin, where he worked for 25 years as a machinist until the plant closed in 1987. Upon closing the plant, he was asked by Vickers to go to the company's Statesville, N.C. plant, where he spent six months to set up specialty machines and train personnel on their use. He and his wife, Betty, moved to Topeka, in 1991, where he went to work for the Kansas Department of Revenue until retiring due to his medical health in 1998.
Ray and his wife, Betty, owned and operated McBride Concessions. A business they owned for 27 years (their night-time job) serving students and the public at the Columbus high school ballgames and track meets. They also operated a concession stand each year during the Cherokee County Fair. One of his fondest memories was giving babies their first taste of cotton candy.
Ray was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church, of Columbus. He was a 66-year member of the Columbus American Legion Post #3 and a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars of Columbus Post #1372.
He is survived by his spouse, Betty; daughter, Ruth and son-in-law, Mike Hall, of Olathe, Kan.; son, Wesley Ray and daughter-in-law, Pam McBride, of Sherman, Texas. Two granddaughters, Kimberly McBride, of Krum, Texas, and Jennifer McBride, of Sherman; and one grandson, Matthew Hall, of Kansas City, Mo. His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy and he enjoyed every minute he spent with them. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Flossie McBride; brother, Wesley V. McBride, of Savannah, Ga.; and sister, Juanita (McBride) Ness, of Kansas City.
Burial is under the direction of Derfelt Funeral Home, Columbus. Rosary will be held at the funeral home Friday, January 20, 7 p.m. The family will meet friends following the rosary. Burial mass will be at St. Rose Catholic Church, Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. Father Jeremy Huser will officiate. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery, in Columbus.
Contributions may be made to St. Rose Catholic Church or the Columbus Community Foundation.