Ray Burton Fitzgerald

Ray B. Fitzgerald STAUNTON

Ray Burton Fitzgerald, 79, husband of Mary Katherine "Kitty" Fitzgerald, died on Monday, October 18, 2010, at Augusta Health in Fishersville.

He was born on May 11, 1931, in Augusta County a son of the late Arthur Cleveland and Virgie Elizabeth Marshall Stokes Fitzgerald.

Mr. Fitzgerald was a veteran of the United States Navy.

He served the Supreme Court of Virginia as the Chief Magistrate for the 25th Judicial District. He also served as Clerk of Augusta County General District Court for over 30 years. In addition, he performed weddings for more than 5000 couples as a marriage celebrant for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was formerly a sergeant with the Staunton Police Department.

He was a pastor of the Parish of Shenandoah for Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Mount Joy Presbyterian Church, and Ben Salem Presbyterian Church.

He was a lifetime member of Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder, a Deacon, and a Sunday school teacher.

He was a loving husband to his wife for over 57 years and loving father to his children, Ray Burton "Rusty" Fitzgerald Jr. and his wife, Ginger, of Fluvanna, Debra Fitzgerald O'Connell and her husband, Charlie, of Fairfax, Ellen Kay "Katie" Fitzgerald and her husband, Charles Finney, of Frederick, Maryland, and Laura Fitzgerald Cooper and her husband, John, of Nashville, Tennessee. He is also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Carl E. and Lily Fitzgerald of Staunton; a sister and brother-in-law, Shirley Ann and Carroll Wheeler of Staunton; a sister-in-law, Adelene Fitzgerald; six grandchildren, Erin O'Connell, Ryan Fitzgerald and his wife, Sarah, Van Fitzgerald, John Powell Cooper, McGavock Cooper, and Crockett Cooper; a great-granddaughter, Molly Katherine O'Connell; five step-grandchildren, Laura Finney Miller and her husband, Richard, Brendan Finney, Thomas Dunivan, Stuart Wiley, and Brad Wiley; two step-great grandchildren, Isabel and Samuel Miller; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Arthur Franklin "Sonny" Fitzgerald; and three sisters, Grace Chaplin, Louise Armstrong, and Jean Fitzgerald.

A memorial service will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday, October 23, 2010, at Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church by the Reverend Jan G. Owen and Reverend Larry Miles. A graveside service will be held 10:30 a.m. at the church cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Wayne Fitzgerald, Lewis Sweet Jr., Ryan Fitzgerald, Van Fitzgerald, Charlie O'Connell, Charles Finney, and John Cooper.

Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Glass, Henry Moffett Jr., Charlie Cook, Robbie Davis, Bill Dull, Jack Todd, Tom Ramsey, Finley Campbell, Mac MacCray, and Roger Hayes.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, October 22, 2010, at the Henry Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.henryfuneralhome.net.


This obituary was originally published in the News Virginian.