Ray Whittle of Murphys

    Raymond A. Whittle died December 22,2017 at his home in Murphys. Ray was born November 4, 1925 in Angels Camp at Mrs. Minard's Maternity Home to Don and Marie Vassere Whittle.

   He attended grammar school in Carson Hill and graduated from Bret Harte High School in 1944. As was the case with several local men Ray's father accepted his diploma as he was already deployed with the Army Air Corp.  He served in both Japan and the Philippines during World War II.

   After the war Ray returned to Angels Camp where he began a series of careers from logging and operating heavy equipment for Pickering Lumber Company to law enforcement, serving as one of the few deputies under Calaveras County Sheriff Lester McFall.  HE would go on to help build many of the roads, sub-divisions and reservoirs in this country, throughout the state and Nevada as a member of the Operating Engineers local # 3.

   Ray enjoyed hunting and fishing his entire life, a pleasure he shared with his family and friends. He was a member of the Angels Gun Club.

  As anyone who knew him would tell you, Ray, "Boss", was a wealth of information.  Going for a drive with him was like taking a walk through a history book. He could tell you everything that ever happened along your route especially if he happened to have a successful hunting trip in the area.

   In 1985 Ray married Elsie Kitching. Ray and Elsie were married for 32 years until Elsie's sudden passing on November 12, 2017.  They spent many happy years together doing the things they both enjoyed.

   Ray was preceded in death by his parents Don and Marie, his wife Elsie, his son Buzz and step-daughter Debbie Gualdoni.

   He is survived by his brother Donnie and wife Nancy of Angels Camp, daughter and son-in-law Donna and Terry Bullock of Angels Camp, two grandsons and their wives, Mike and Lori Whittle (Aaron and Ashleigh) of Placerville, and Dean and Jennifer Whittle (Karly and Dylan) of Chandler, Arizona, two step-daughters Lori Ford of Stockton and Kristi and husband John Adams of Helena, Montana. He had 5 step-grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren, several nephews and nieces and many loyal friends.

   A celebration of life will be planned for later in the spring, time and place to be announced.  Angels Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.