Mr. Raymond Cassidy Rumel

Raymond Cassidy Rumel, passed away Friday, February 15th, surrounded by his family and after battling Parkinson's for many years. He was 85. Ray was born on January 20, 1928 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the third child of John Henry and Winifred Mary Rumel. He attended school in Salt Lake and played both football and the violin for West High School. Ray had a mischievous sense of humor, once mimicking the trademark signal of a Salt Lake City mob leader by tossing his jacket over his shoulder while leaving church in front of the gangster himself -- much to Ray's siblings' dismay. Ray joined the service near the end of World War II and was stationed on the West Coast. Ray was proud of his service in the Navy, although he was fond of noting that he never learned how to swim. After receiving his honorable discharge from the service, Ray attended college and worked in Idaho. He met Gloria Humphries in the early-1950s and they soon married. That union lasted for over sixty (60) years. With two young children in tow, Ray and Gloria moved to Southern California in 1953. Ray found work with the Thrifty Drug Store Company in 1954, initially serving as a manager of its stores in Riverside and Arlington and holding several other management positions with the company. Ray and Gloria eventually settled in Hacienda Heights in the early 1960s, residing there to the present day. Ray retired from his position as Vice-President in charge of store operations for Thrifty's in 1985, having worked for them for thirty-one (31) years. Prior to his retirement, Ray, Gloria and their children spent two weeks every Summer on vacation, camping in their trailer, visiting or meeting up with relatives in the Sierras (Virginia Lakes was a favorite destination) and Utah and Idaho, and competing and swapping lies with family friend Chuck for the "Who Caught the Biggest Fish?" award. During retirement, Ray and Gloria traveled extensively in their motor home, often joined by friends Loren and Jackie. Trips to Alaska and Mexico were particularly memorable. Ray spent his final years at Monaco Crest Guest Home in Hacienda Heights. While there, he received expert and loving care from Monaco's staff -- most notably from his caregiver and friend Ben. Ray is survived by his wife Gloria, his daughters Cheryl Taylor and Debbie Rumel, both from Cucamonga, his son John Rumel (Kathe Alters), Boise, Idaho, his sister Colleen Lummis, Sunnyvale, California, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Fae Nelson, Salt Lake City, Utah and Helen Tuley, Los Alamitos, California.