LESLIE BRAY Jr.

BRAY LESLIE WILLIAM BRAY, JR. Maj. General, US Air Force (Ret.) Leslie William Bray, Jr. took his first breath in Heaven and was welcomed with open arms by his Savior Jesus Christ, along with his precious wife, Marie, their son, Casey, their six babies lost prematurely, his parents, sister, and a host of others on July 30, 2017. Les Bray was the devoted husband of Marie Harrison Bray, father of Casey Harrison Bray and Julie Bray Jacobson (Delbert). He was Grandfather to Leslie Andrew (Andy) and his wife, Ginny, of Orlando, Florida, and Casey Michael and his wife, Kelly, of Lynchburg, Virginia. He was the proud Great-Grandfather to Jim, Caleb, Noah and Matthew in Florida, and Maelyn and Mackenzie in Virginia. He was also a beloved uncle to a host of nieces and nephews. Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1921, he graduated from Sunset High School, Dallas; attended Arlington State University, Arlington; and received a B.S. degree from the University of Maryland. He married the love of his life, Marie Harrison on April 17, 1943, in Dallas, Texas. He had an outstanding career in the Air Force beginning with his enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Corps in January 1942 as an aviation cadet. He received his pilot wings and commission as second lieutenant at Foster Field, Victoria, Texas, in October 1942. During World War II, he served in the China-Burma-India theater, as the first and only commander of the 16th Combat Cargo Squadron. He subsequently held a variety of command and staff assignments ranging from duty in Civil Air Patrol headquarters to assignment in the Strategic Air Command. His full military biography can be found online at: http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/107658/major-general-leslie-w-bray-jr/ After his retirement from the U.S. Air Force in 1973, he went on to serve as the Director of the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Preparedness. This office was elevated in rank and renamed the Federal Preparedness Agency, and was one of three agencies that together became the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). After his civil service years, he served as Executive Vice President of The Analytical Sciences Corporation (TASC) in northern Virginia. During the many years in Falls Church, Virginia, he and Marie served their Lord and community at Columbia Baptist Church. Les taught a young men's Sunday School class, was the Head Deacon, and also served in a local Prison Ministry. True to his roots, however, he and Marie elected to finally retire to Fredericksburg, Texas. As members of First Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, he and Marie supported many building projects both physically and financially, and contributed significantly to Hill Country Memorial Hospital. Many children's ministries and charities have benefitted from his amazing generosity. Leslie W. Bray, Jr. will be laid to rest with full military honors alongside his wife and son at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. A Memorial Service for Maj. General Leslie W. Bray Jr., U.S. Air Force Ret., will be held on Wednesday, June 27 at 11 a.m., in the Old Post Chapel, Ft. Myer, Virginia. Arrangements are by the Schaetter Funeral Home. Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.schaetter.com