Rev. Ray H. French, 78, of Delphi, passed away on Monday, October 30, 2017, at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Center.
He was born May 11, 1939, in Clay County, to Harlan Harvey and Clella Sabina Kester French. On September 10, 1960, Ray married Betty Jane Secrest at Beech EUB Church in Clay City; she preceded him in death on November 13, 2010.
Ray graduated from Cory High School in 1957, attended Indiana State University and DePauw University before graduating in 1966 from Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston, IL. On May 28, 1961, Ray received his pastor license and was ordained in 1964. Beginning in 1976, he pastored at Camden First Baptist Church before moving to Oak Hill, West Virginia, in 1991, to pastor at Calvary Baptist and later to Salem Baptist Church before retiring in 1999. He was a member of Mt. Zion Lodge #211 F&AM.
Surviving Ray are his sons, Ronald Ray French (Jerilyn Flora), of Flora, Gregory Scott (Pam) French, of Camden, and Michael Leroy (Robin) French, of Lafayette; daughter, Rhonda Jane Stembaugh, of Lafayette; sister, Barbara Ruth (Leroy)Royer, of Cory; nine grandchildren, Shawna Braun, Aerica (Isaiah) Beaver, Cheyenne (Wade) Glahn, Caitlyn French (Brady Oldham), Carlie French, Camden French, Carson French, Nathaniel Flora, and Nicole (Matt) Johnson; six great-grandchildren, Kendal, Jameson, Phoenix, Leo, Brecken, and Braiden; and long-time family friends, Ray & Dinah Perdue.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at Camden First Baptist Church from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. with masonic rites beginning at 7:30 p.m. Funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 3, 2017, at the church. Burial will follow in Camden Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Genda Funeral Home Reinke Chapel in Flora, with online condolences directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.