Ray Alexander Gaul

1930 - 2014

Ray Alexander Gaul
April 10, 1930 – March 2, 2014
Longtime Resident of Alameda
Ray suddenly and unexpectedly entered into eternal peace on March 2, 2014. He was preceded in death by Fern, his loving wife of 42 years, whom he cared for during her 10-year struggle with Alzheimer's. Ray is survived by his children James (Sue) Gaul, Pamela (Bob) Gaul Loudy, and Gary (Robin) Gaul, granddaughters Katie (Lee) Loudy Wright, Janelle (Mark) Gaul Fisk, Kristin (Geoff) Loudy Madding, and great granddaughters Amelia and Ella. His nephew, Jack Tillings, and niece, Teri Gaul, in Canada, also survive him. Ray was very close to his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Joan and Richard Jessen, nephew Mike Jessen, niece Cathy (Buzz) Jessen Cruce, great nephews Jacob and Jared, as well as great niece Jenna.
Ray was born during the Great Depression in Calgary, Canada of American parents. He was the fourth child in his family of eight. In 1935, his family accepted a homestead in northwestern Alberta. In 1941, his father, a railroad engineer, lost his life in a train collision. Soon after, Ray went out on his own. He served in the Merchant Marines from 1945 – 1949, and then moved on to tug boating in San Francisco Bay. He joined the Air Force in 1950 when the Korean War started, serving four years active and 13 years in reserve in the OSI. Ray joined the Alameda Police Department in 1955 and then moved on to the Oakland Police Department in 1958, where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was a proud member of the Oakland Police Motorcycle Drill Team, and the Municipal Motorcycle Officers Club. In 1967, Ray was wounded in a shooting, and in 1969 he was retired as a result of injuries incurred in the line of duty. After this he worked as Corporate Risk/Safety Manager for the Hearst Corporation. During this time he also owned and operated the Factory Restaurant in Alameda, Fantasy Island Costumes in San Francisco, and a patrol and investigation business.
Ray was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. Other long-term memberships included the Masons, the Shriners, the Alameda Oak Leaf Chapter Eastern Star, and Le Societe de Camaraderie. More recently, he served for 9 ½ years as a member of the City of Alameda Golf Commission. Ray will be missed by all of his family and friends.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Friday, April 11, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services, 2694 Blanding Avenue, Alameda.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray's memory may be made to either Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 OR the Martin Kauffman 100 Club of Alameda County, 767 Brannan Place, Concord, CA 94518.