Ray Everett McInturff of Smyrna, Tennessee was 85 years old when he died August 18, 2017. Ray's last day with us was like all of his previous years: serving his family. His last day with us, Ray cooked a favorite dish, fresh from his garden, along with fresh heart shaped muffins, bringing them to his wife, Joan, while she recovered in a medical center. After attending Joan for the day, he kissed her, said he loved her, and would return the next day. Returning home to chores and caring for his disabled adult daughter, Lorrie, Ray went to bed and peacefully died at the summons of his Maker.
He was interned Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Miller Cemetery, Christiana, Tennessee at 4:45 p.m.
Ray was the last survivor of parents Ira McInturff and mother Anna Elizabeth, his brothers Eugene McInturff and Shirley McInturff, and sisters Mildred McInturff Sprinkle and Mozelle McInturff Lotz. Ray is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joan Eury McInturff; his children: daughter Krista McInturff Flores and her husband Robert with their daughters Anna, Monica, and Hope; daughter Lorrie McInturff; son Mark McInturff and his wife Mingxia with their daughters Danielle, Olivia, and Erica; daughter Tracy McInturff Tinsley and her husband Terry with their sons Cody and wife Anna, and Casey. Together Ray and Joan have four children plus eight grandchildren.
Ray was born in Riverton, Virginia in 1932, growing up there and in Front Royal on a rural farm. Ray enlisted in the Navy in 1953 serving as a communications operator at sea which set him on his career in the radio & TV broadcast industry. He married Joan Eury of Concord, NC on June 21, 1958. Ray attended college at Tennessee Temple University and graduated after his wife from Bob Jones University. From 1962 to 1975, Ray lived with his wife and 4 children in Greenville, SC then Virginia (Harrisonburg, Bridgewater, Thornburg, and Fredericksburg) until they settled in Nashville, TN in 1975 when Ray accepted a position as Chief Engineer for WZTV Channel 17. After 13 years of service to WZTV, Ray was hired as Chief Engineer for Channel 30 in Nashville which soon merged with Channel 17 where he returned to work until he retired in 2002. Ray moved his household to Smyrna, TN where he continued to guide, serve, and demonstrate love to all his family. With steadfast love and resolve, he exemplified faithfulness, fatherhood, and integrity. He is our hero. We commend him to God: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit in whom he placed his trust.
Farewell Husband, Dad, Popup, and Pawpaw… but only for a little while.