Rev. Ray Bruce Van Camp

Rev. Ray Bruce Van Camp, Jr. died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of September 15th, 2025 with his wife of 52 years, Barbara, and his two girls, Jennifer and Suzanne, by his side. After more than two years of dealing with a rare blood cancer, he is no longer in pain and the bandages are gone.

Ray was born on July 6th, 1948 in Massillon, Ohio to parents Ray Bruce Van Camp, Sr. and Althea Mae McKim and had two older sisters, Leona and Rose. He grew up in Canal Fulton, Ohio and graduated from Jackson High School in Massillon in 1966. He moved to Joplin, Missouri and then Kansas City working for the airlines and then joined the Air Force in 1967. After being discharged in 1971, Ray moved to St. Louis and worked at the airport, where he met Barbara Wallace in 1972. In 1973 they married and started their lives together in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Daughters Jennifer and Suzanne were born in Fort Smith in 1977 and 1979, respectively. Ray graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock while he was pastoring a church in North Little Rock in 1983. He was ordained there and then moved to Kentucky with the family later that year. He became the pastor of Durbin Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, KY in October of 1984, where he pastored until 2001. During this time, he received his Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

After he retired from Durbin, Ray went to work for the Elkhorn Baptist Association, also in Lexington, and was commissioned as a missionary through the North American Mission Board. He worked with new church plants and Hispanic ministries until his retirement at 62. After Barb retired in 2017, they moved to Barb's hometown of Bald Knob, Arkansas, bought a camper, and traveled all over the country. Some of their favorite times traveling were spent in the winters in San Antonio, Texas and visiting National Parks.

Ray loved being a grandpa to his four grandkids, Emelia, Jacob, Jaxon, and Maddox who called him "Papa." Family was very important to him and he cherished times spent together. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and making dad jokes before they were popular. He greatly valued being part of a church community no matter where they lived. People have always been drawn to him and the joy of the Lord always radiated from him. He was loved fiercely and is now in the loving presence of God. He will live in our hearts forever.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Ray Van Camp and Althea (McKim) Van Camp, and his sister Leona Boyd, and son Jason Ray. He is survived by his wife Barbara, his daughters Jennifer Van Camp (Kelsey Burkett) and Suzanne Martin (Patrick), along with grandchildren Emelia, Jacob, Jaxon, Maddox, and Harper; his sister Rose Boyd (John) and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

We want to express our sincere gratitude for the caregivers at Unity Health White County Medical Center, Elite Hospice, and CARTI Infusion Center in North Little Rock for the excellent care they gave to him.