Ray Deltz Sr.

Ray Deltz, Sr.
Raleigh
Ray Deltz, Sr., age 90, died Tuesday, May 28, 2013. A native of New Jersey he graduated from Tenafly High School earning varisty letters in soccer, basketball and baseball.
In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving 2½ years in the Pacific aboard the heavy Cruiser USS Chester and was awarded 3 campaign ribbons with 8 battle stars. The GI Bill allowed him to attend and graduate from Colby College (Waterville, ME) where he was a member of the varsity basketball team, Yearbook Sports Editor and President of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He received his M. Litt. Degree from the University of Pittsburgh being elected to the Honorary Society Eta Mu Pi. It was here that he considered the defining moment of his life when he met his future wife, the late Veronica (Ronnie) Elinsky, a R.N. He had been married for 59 years and has a son Ray, Jr. of Raleigh. He often said "He was blessed and knew it." Never lost for words, he had a rare sense of humor, often tongue in cheek, turning mundane subjects into pure comedy. He was animated, witty, infuriating to some and neurotic to others. An avid non-fiction history and politics reader, his great joy was having the N & O publish one of his less than subtle letters. Ray loved all sports and was a long time member of Raleigh Country Club and the NCSU Wolfpack Club. Always together, he and Ronnie traveled extensively to all 50 states and overseas. He was well known for planning and organizing many activities and trips for his friends. He joined IBM in 1957 at Endicott, NY. Transferring to Raleigh in 1966, he held various management positions in Personnel and Education retiring after 30 years. Ray was President of the Raleigh-Wake County chapter of the American Society for Personnel Administration. Volunteering for IBM's Faculty Loan Program, he taught at St. Augustine's College. He directed the 1983 IBM-RTP United Way Drive for which he received special Corporate recognition. He also received the 1986 Outstanding Service Award for United Way of Wake County for development and execution of the volunteer training program.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Ray's friends at Magnolia Glen, 5301 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh on Thursday, June 6 from 2-4 PM. The family expresses thanks to residents and staff at Magnolia Glen for their kindness and friendship.
The ashes of Ray and Ronnie Deltz will be placed in the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorials can be sent to WCPE, P.O. Box 897, Wake Forest, NC 27588 or NC Symphony, 3700 Glenwood Ave., Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27612.
Online condolences can be sent to CremationSocietyNC.com