NAPA - Raymond "Ray" Paul Gleason passed away July 26, 2008. He was born Aug. 2, 1927, to Lester and Margaret Gleason, in Hampton, Iowa. He moved to Minneapolis at a young age until joining the U.S. Navy in 1944, serving aboard the USS Belleau Wood during World War II.

Moving to and living in Napa since 1949, Ray started his own business as a painter, which he worked as, until his employment at Napa State Hospital (NSH) as a painter supervisor from 1961 to his retirement in 1987. He was a volunteer with the NSH Fire Department for over 20-plus years, and every Christmas he road through the local neighborhoods on a fire truck as Santa Claus. He also was a volunteer member of the Napa County Sheriff's Department and is an honorary deputy sheriff. He enjoyed many hobbies and pastimes: fishing, model railroading, collecting replica fire engines, rollerskating, square-dancing and bowling. Ray was actively involved in a local CB club, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9472, and American Legion Post 113 (where he was past post chaplain, post vice commander, and post commander) and a member of the USS Belleau Wood Survivors Association.

Ray was married to Mary Lou Lundeen and until her passing, Carma Gleason, and was with companion Wava Anderson until her passing.

He is survived by daughter Sandra Lee Wolfer of Kennewick, Wash.; daughter Debby Campbell of Vacaville; daughter Paula Husted of Vallejo; step-daughter Glenda Cudaback of Waterford, Va.; step-daughter Karen Woods of Fairfield; step-daughter Katrina Ferguson of Vacaville; grandchildren Daniel Wolfer, Christi Wolfer, Chelsee Campbell, Kyle Campbell, Alexandre Cudaback, Jared Woods, Camella Woods, Ryan Ferguson and Kyle Ferguson, and great-granddaughter Alexi Wolfer.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 1 p.m., at Richard Pierce Funeral Service, 1660 Silverado Trail, in Napa. Immediately following, military honors will be provided by both active duty and former military members at St. Helena Cemetery, 2461 Spring St., St. Helena, CA 94574.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Hospice of Napa Valley, 414 So. Jefferson St., Napa, CA  94559 or American Legion Post 113, 1240 Pearl St., Napa, CA 94559. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.rpfsc.com.