NORTH MANCHESTER – Ray James Eberly, 93, North Manchester, died at 5:45 p.m. Nov. 1, 2019, at Timbercrest Healthcare Center, North Manchester.
He was born April 25, 1926, in Kosciusko County, to Levi and Mary Mishler Eberly. He married Joyce Joan Shaffer in July 1946; she died April 2, 1972. He married Ruth G. “Gerry” Geiger on Aug. 19, 1973; she survives.
Ray was a farmer and a school bus driver for Manchester Community Schools for 30 years. He retired in 1993. He served his country in the United States Army in 1946. He was a member of the First Brethren Church, North Manchester.
First and foremost, Ray was a man that believed in the Lord. Every Sunday he would take his family to church and was involved in various church activities, including being a trustee. Ray attended Larwill High School. He would volunteer his time with different 4-H activities his children were a part of and then activities that his grandchildren were a part of. In all, Ray was involved in 4-H and the Wabash County Fair for 53 years. 4-H wasn’t the only way that Ray would show his love for his grandkids – he would also attend any other events they were a part of – many times this would include driving a bus with their teams on it to their games.
Ray was a longtime supporter of Manchester High School athletics as well. He was a season ticket holder for 50 years. He also served on Chester Township Fire Department for 10 years and on the Chester Township Advisory Board for six years. He was an avid basketball fan, loved to travel around the world, fishing and spending time with his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; sons: Ronald (Joyce)?Eberly, Gary (Karen) Eberly, Scott (Darla) Eberly, all of North Manchester, and Nick (Jon Morgan) Eberly, of Elkhart; stepson, Gregg Geiger, of Churubusco; stepdaughter, Janet (Norm) Clarke, of West Springfield, Mass.; brother, Lee Eberly, of South Whitley; sister, Glea Rule, of Columbia City; 14 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Joyce; son, Kurt Allen Eberly in 1970; two brothers, George and Dean Eberly; and one sister, Phyllis Birtwhistle.
Services are 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 at McKee Mortuary, 1401 Ind. 114 W., North Manchester, IN 46962, with Pastor Kurt Stout officiating. Visitation is 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service Wednesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in South Whitley Cemetery.
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Memorials to First Brethren Church, 407 N. Sycamore St., North Manchester, IN 46962; or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46814.
