Obituary of Ray Edward Waggoner

Bedford – Ray Edward Waggoner, 85, of Bedford, passed on Monday, October 11, 2021, at Garden Villa in Bedford. Born March 7, 1936, in Williams, he was the son of Orville and Metta (Thomas) Waggoner. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Aliano, on May 17, 1956, and they were married for 65 years. He worked at RCA in Bloomington for 14 years, then at Western Electric/Lucent until his retirement in May 1990. He was transferred to Chicago in 1981 and commuted on the weekends for 9 years. He made many friends in Chicago who he remained in contact with. He then worked as a contractor for Midwest Technologies for 10 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of the Oolitic Church of Christ. He loved his God and took part in church as long as he was able. He loved gardening and his horses, Moon, Sugar, Cody and Little Bit. He always had a huge garden and kept a meticulous yard. He loved his companion, a Corgi named Missy. In his later years, he and Missy would sit in the back yard and Missy would chase birds and bark at the squirrels. He loved spending time with his granddaughters, playing cards, hide and seek, camping and attending their activities, ballgames and dance recitals. He was a proud papaw. He loved fishing with his sons and hunting grouse and pheasants. He loved the vacations his family took every 5 years including Disney World, a Disney cruise and a week in the outer banks, and an Alaskan cruise. Survivors include his wife, Shirley; his sons, Brad (Sally) Waggoner, and Mike (Laura) Waggoner; granddaughters, Amanda (Sean) Hunter, Audra (Jason) Dailey, Anna Waggoner, Lacy (Zach) Bailiff, and Laken (Jacek) Zapendowski; great grandchildren, Gabriella Ray Hunter, Lucy Elizabeth Hunter, Olivia Grace Dailey, Grant Lewis Dailey, Lola Jo Bailiff,and Zoey James Bailiff; siblings, Roy (Sue) Waggoner, Jane Mundy, Sharon Hillenburg (Laramie), Herb (Rita) Waggoner. He was preceded by his parents; his brother, Bill; a brother in infancy, James. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 16th in the Elmwood Chapel of the Day & Carter Mortuary with Rev. Bill Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in Cresthaven Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, October 15th at the Day & Carter Mortuary. Family and friends may express condolences at www.daycarter.com.