Ray Herlinger Morton

1917 - 2010

Ray Herlinger Morton August 15, 1917 - November 6, 2010 Ray Herlinger Morton, 93, passed away peacefully at his home in Bakersfield, CA on Saturday, November 6, 2010, surrounded by his loving family. Ray was born on August 15, 1917 in Dinuba, CA, to Charles Ross and Grace Alice (Herlinger) Morton. He was graduated from Kern County Union High School in 1935, where he was a yell leader and played in the band. He attended Bakersfield Junior College prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1939. After the Second World War he attended the University of California in Berkeley, where he was graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. He married the former Corinne Stutts in 1943. After WWII they settled in Jacksonville, FL, where he was a Registered Professional Engineer and partner in the firm "Bowen, Morton and Joshi Engineers." He was preceded in death by Corinne in 1977. On March 1, 1997 he married the former Juanita (Anderson) Wheeler in Bakersfield, and is survived by Juanita. He is also survived by his sister Hazel Morton Rees of Bakersfield, son Ray Stutts Morton (Karyn) of Jacksonville, FL, daughter Corinne Morton Haag (David) of Greensboro, NC, niece Mandy Rees of Bakersfield, grandson Charles Ross Champion of Del Mar, CA, and a very large and extended family of Juanita's children: Gerald Alan Wheeler (Kay Marie) of Oakland CA, Pamela Wheeler Ashby (Richard) of Sacramento CA, Ken Wheeler (Lisa) of Bakersfield, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ray was a patriotic American, volunteering to serve in the armed forces in 1939. He transferred to the Army Air Corps, and was trained as a pilot, flying many types of military aircraft, both single and multi-engine. He was assigned to the Pacific theater of war, was a bombing and test pilot, and achieved the rank of Major before the end of the war. Ray was very proud of his Air Corps and military service achievements, and maintained his membership in the Air Force Association. He was highly regarded as a professional engineer, and was a long-time member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers/"ASHRAE." His services were much sought after, even after he formally retired, and he continued to consult in his chosen field into his later years. Ray leaves a legacy of a loving family, and of an extended "adopted" family who knew, loved and respected him as "Grandpa Ray." His presence around the kitchen table, where he spent many hours with Juanita and their family members, will always be treasured and remembered. Ray was a member of the Oildale Church of Christ. By his request there will be no funeral services; a memorial in his honor will be announced at a later time. As he wished, his ashes will be scattered in Kern County where, he said, "he spent some of the happiest years of his life." The family is extremely grateful for the dedicated and caring services of Hoffman Hospice, (including nurses Ana and Felicia, and Chaplin Wayne, among many others), and to care-giver Rita, all of whom were so helpful at this special time of Ray's life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hoffmann Hospice. www.bakersfield.com/obits