Raymond Halladay

Raymond Art Halladay, October 21, 1927 to September 17, 2010. Ray passed away at home surrounded by friends and family. Eldest son of Alice Johnson Halladay and Lorin Halladay, born in Long Beach, CA, he was raised in Lomita and Wilmington, graduating from Banning High School, with a California state award in journalism for his work on the class yearbook. Ray served his country as a merchant marine for years, then settled in Garden Grove with the love of his life, Christina (nee Spinosa) and was a proud member of Local 13 even after his medical retirement. He enjoyed reading, westerns in film or print, but he especially loved cars. Ray and Chris both worked, raced and played at Lions Drag Strip with Judy (Thompson Creach) and Mickey Thompson during the heydays of sanctioned drag racing. He was the Stock Car Director at Lions, and wrote the AHRA rules for years. Many of these rules were adopted into the NHRA sanctioning body, launching drag racing into a safer and faster future. With his 1937 Buick straight-eight he continued to compete with his brother-in-law Vince Spinosa as driver; they hold a B class stock record that still stands today. At Lions he and Vince earned Top Eliminator, a huge honor. He was also a pioneer racer at Lakes El Mirage and Muroc. Happiest in the company of family and friends, he was a generous host delighting his guests with his special baked hams and tasty pizzelles. We, Ray's family, are grateful to have loved him so well for so long, for his kindness, wisdom and laughter and we will never forget the joy he brought us all. His love will be held in our hearts forever. Ray is survived by his loving wife, Christina; daughter, Karen (JD) Black; many friends as close as family, brothers and sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents and brother, Bruce Glen Halladay. Generous in life and death, Ray has donated his body to the USC School of Medicine; there will be no services per his request. Please sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.