1939
Bobby "Bob"
2022
Bobby "Bob" Lee Ray
September 9, 1939 — May 8, 2022
Little Rock
Bobby Lee “Bob” Ray, age 82, of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away on May 8, 2022. Bobby was born in
Old Washington, Arkansas on September 9, 1939, as the “great depression” was about to end and World
War II was about to begin.
Old Washington, Arkansas on September 9, 1939, as the “great depression” was about to end and World
War II was about to begin.
His father, Herman Lee Ray, was born in Washington as well. Bobby’s great grandfather, John Houston
Ray, had brought his family to Southwest Arkansas in wagons from Covington, Tennessee in 1901. The
trip took 18 days. He was a farmer and homesteaded land around Dierks before renting and buying
farmland in Hempstead County. His grandfather, Henry Zan Ray, farmed and trapped mink and beaver
in the Ozan Creek bottom. He loved being in the woods.
Bobby’s mother, Thelma Lucille Smedley, was born in Snyder, Texas. His grandfather, David Henry
Smedley, was born and raised around Murfreesboro, Pike County, Arkansas. He left to serve in World
War I. Bobby’s second great-grandfather, William Robert Smedley, moved to Pike County in 1859. He
was a landowner, a surveyor for Pike County, and a tanner. He also owned and operated a hotel and
tavern in Murfreesboro during and after the Civil War.
Bobby enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard, Company D, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Division, on
January 16th, 1956, and completed his obligation with the U.S. Army Reserve.
He graduated from Arkadelphia Senior High School in May of 1957. While there, he lettered in football;
played trumpet in the band; was part of the Dramatic Club; “A” Association; F.T.A.; Homecoming Escort;
and the Junior and Senior Class Executive Council.
In 1957, he moved to Andrews, Texas to work in the oil field for the summer before starting
college. There he met the love of his life, Charlotte Kay Parnell, and they married on December 24, 1957
in the Means Memorial Methodist Church. Their family grew with the births of Leigh Ann, Christopher
Lee, and Mark William Ray.
While in Andrews, Bobby worked in the oil field. He was also a route salesman for Frost Bakery and had
a partnership with his father-in-law, Aubrey Alfred Parnell, in the Corner Grocery Store and a Chevron
Service Station. He then began his career as a life insurance salesman.
On July 4, 1962, the family transferred to Carlsbad, New Mexico with the American Founders Life
Insurance Co. Bobby and his partner, Von Burba, were the first to qualify for the Million Dollar Round
Table. Bobby was elected President of the Eddy County Life Underwriters Association. He was very
active in Jaycees and Kiwanas Club, serving in several offices. He was Master of Ceremonies for the Miss
Carlsbad Pagent, March of Dimes Telethon, and was selected as Outstanding Young Man of the Year in
1964/1965. During this time, he received his C.L.U. (Chartered Life Underwriter) degree from the
American College of Life Underwriters.
In November 1966, Bobby accepted an offer from Pilot Life Insurance Co. and moved to Bad Kreuznach,
West Germany as an agent and later a Unit Manager. In January 1970, he transferred to the home office
in Greensboro, North Carolina, and in January 1971 was promoted to General Agent in Charleston,
South Carolina. In February 1973, the company transferred Bobby and his family to St. Leon, West
Germany, as he was promoted to the position of “Director of European Operations.” His duties included
hiring General Agents in the USA and Europe, training, and locating them in Germany, England, Spain,
Scotland, and other countries. In January 1979, he was moved back to the home office as “Regional
Superintendent,” accepting responsibility for Western Texas and Southern New Mexico in January 1980
for Jefferson Standard Life Ins. Co., a sister company of Pilot Life. They later merged into Jefferson-Pilot
Life Insurance Company.
Life Insurance Company.
Having the desire to live in Europe again and with his boys grown, and his retirement plan vested, Bobby
and Charlotte retired from Jefferson-Pilot and moved to Newmarket, Suffolk, England, U.K. in July
1983. As partners, (in life, love, and business) they established and operated an independent life and
casualty insurance agency doing business as “The American Insurance Center.” They established agents
in offices on the larger U.S. Air Forces and Naval bases in the U.K. They were exclusive distributors of
products from GEICO and agents for Sunset Life, Lafayette Life, AIG, and others. They were the first
Americans to hold an Agency Agreement with Norwich Union Insurance Company in the U.K. They sold
their business in January 1992 and moved to Orlando, Florida where Mark lived.
From March of 1992 to May 1998, Bobby fulfilled a childhood dream of living on Lake Hamilton. It was a
wonderful time filled with visits from children and grandchildren. There were boat rides, bar-b-ques,
and sightseeing. There was also quality time to spend with his parents. It was also during this time that
Bobby formed a partnership with Don Harris, and they developed “Files Landing Lake Homes” dba
Harris/Ray Inc.
Bobby’s son, Chris, and his wife, Renee, moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas and bought “Connelley Moving
and Storage.” After a lot of hard work, they bought “Brandon Moving and Storage” in Little
Rock. Bobby and Charlotte moved to Little Rock in January of 1998 to help out with sales within the
company.
In September of 1999, they moved to “Brodie Creek” subdivision. Bobby retired for the second time in
2005.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years and 5 months, Charlotte Parnell Ray of Little Rock; son and his
wife, Christopher Lee and Renee Key Ray of Benton; grandson and his wife, David Lee and Abbey
Allenbaugh Ray of Benton; grandson and his wife, Justin Ryan and Jenny Swenson Ray of Benton;
granddaughter and her husband, Amanda Ray Cox and J. Shane Cox of Benton; and granddaughter and
her husband, Ashley Elizabeth Wilhite and William Dylan Wilhite of Anchorage, Alaska.
Surviving great-grandchildren include: Piper Hazel Ray, Grady Swen Ray, Henry Lee Ray, Lucy Everett
Ray, Walter James Ray, and soon arriving, Charlotte Mai Cox – all of Benton.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Herman Lee Ray and Thelma Lucille Smedley Ray Geurin;
daughter, Leigh Ann Ray; son, Mark William Ray; brother, Billy Henry Ray; and grandson, Jason Michael
Ray.
Celebration of Life Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 AM on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at
Smith-Benton Funeral Home at 11:00 AM. Private burial to be held in Rockport Cemetery in Malvern,
Arkansas.
Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bobby "Bob" Lee Ray, please visit our flower store.
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Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Thursday, May 12, 2022
10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)
Smith Family Funeral Home Benton
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