Ray Lake

Hubert Ray Lake, 87, left this life and joined the Church Triumphant on Monday, December 2, 2024. 

A Memorial Service will be held at First Baptist Church of Benbrook, 1015 McKinley St., Benbrook, Texas on Saturday, December 14th at 2:00 pm.

Hubert “Ray” was born December 30, 1936 to Ima Opal (Burks) and Hubert Dalton Lake in Sayre, Oklahoma. Ray’s family lived in California and in the Texas Panhandle, settling in Pampa, Texas where he met the love of his life Sandra Jo Cooper as they attended Pampa High School. On April 8, 1955, Ray and Sandra married in Pampa and celebrated their 69th anniversary this past April while watching the total solar eclipse, both momentous occasions.

Throughout his childhood days Ray worked on the farm and played in the fields of his grandparents, Boyd and Melinda Burks. Alongside his mother he worked at a local clothes cleaners before starting his service to his country. He served in the Texas Army National Guard while still in high school and in 1955 joined the United States Air Force. Following his service in the Air Force, Ray continued his patriotic duty in the United States Navy as an Aviation Ordnanceman, followed by many years in the Naval Reserve. During his service in the Naval Reserve with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 22, Ray deployed in 1968-69 to combat zones in the Republic of Vietnam. Following combat duty Ray completed a career in the Naval Reserve, retiring from duty in 1996 on his birthday. When not serving his country militarily Ray served in the Defense industry working at the Mason & Hanger/Silas Mason Pantex plant in many capacities including safety, procedures controls and quality control sparking a lifelong eye to keeping things in their place and safe. Ray completed his service to country at the Pantex plant, retiring in 2002. Along the way Ray earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist College in 1980.

Ray was a long-time serving member of Friendship Baptist and Paramount Baptist Churches of Amarillo, Texas and First Baptist Church of Benbrook, Texas.

Ray was preceded in death by his mother Opal, his grandparents Boyd and Melinda, brother Robert “Dale” Lake, sister-in-law Karen Lake, daughter-in-law Cori Lake, grandson Michael Lake, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

Those left to cherish his memory and extend his commitment to faith and family are his loving wife Sandra, three sons, Lannie Lake and his wife, Sheri of Fort Worth, Dannie Lake and his wife, Rebecca of Amarillo, and Robert Lake and his wife, Doris of Fort Worth. Ray’s legacy continues through 19 grandchildren and spouses; and a multitude of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. 

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial gifts to First Baptist Church, Benbrook, Texas.