Bill Ray Ely

Bill Ely, age 93, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 23, 2025. He was a New Year's baby born on January 1, 1932 to Tom and Reba Ely in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where he was raised with his two younger siblings, Joel and Loretta. Standing at 6 foot 5 inches, Bill played basketball in high school and set state records in the high jump. He started his college career at OBU, where he met the love of his life, June Stout. Bill took a break from college to serve in the Navy aboard the USS Leyte in the Korean War. When he returned home, Bill married June on December 18, 1953 and completed his studies at the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
During their 71 years of marriage, Bill and June had two children, Cynthia and Roger. Bill enjoyed a successful 35-year career with the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company that moved him and his family all over the state of Oklahoma and also to Missouri where they saw the Gateway Arch completed in 1965 as well as New Jersey, where he was loaned to AT&T and commuted to New York City for two years. Bill loved telling stories about his travels and many adventures with the telephone company.
Bill was a faithful member of Village Baptist Church and enjoyed singing in the choir and serving on the finance committee. Once he retired, Bill and June took advantage of the opportunity to travel more often with friends and their church group. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially as it grew over the years to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Waiting to greet Bill in heaven are his parents, Tom and Reba, his brother, Joel, and his son-in-law, Peter.
He is survived by his wife, June Ely, daughter, Cynthia Wilson, son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Katie Ely, sister, Loretta Miller, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.