Charles Dilmon Ray, 88, of Cabot, passed away Tuesday, February 28, 2023.  He was born October 29, 1934 in Harrisburg, Arkansas to the late Orville Monroe and Maybelle (née Atchison) Ray.  Charles proudly served his country in the United States Air Force with tours of duty in Japan and at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.  After his honorable military discharge, his second career was as Chief of Computer Systems for the Department of Defense in Memphis, Tennessee from which he retired.  Never known to be idle, he began his third career as a partner and owner of Metro Flying Service in Olive Branch, Mississippi.  His greatest joy was being a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and was an avid outdoorsman.  He earned his private pilot's license and also enjoyed flying.  Following his multiple careers, Charles and Joan moved to Cabot to be closer to their children and family.  In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-five years, Joan Stricklin Ray.

Left to cherish his memory and to miss him dearly are his children, Randye Dill and her husband, Eddie, and Kevin Ray, all of Cabot; grandchildren, Samuel Simmons (Kim), Jessica South (Jamey), Kari Joanna Biggerstaff (Bryce) and Nolan Dill (Camary); great-grandchildren, Lily, Lola, Mason, Sawyer, Charlotte, Saylor, Kinsley and Katelyn; sister, Geneva Gould; sisters-in-law, Geraldine Barnes, Sandra Adams and Margaret Stricklin; brother-in-law, Joe Parker; special family friends, Leigh, Llyz and Xuenja, as well as many extended family members and friends.

Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. prior to the service at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Cabot.    If you would like to make a donation in memory of Charles Ray, the family suggests St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105 or by going to their website at https://www.stjude.org/donations .   Arrangements by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.