Raymond “Ray” G. Natale Sr., 91, of West Grove, died Tuesday, Jan. 30, at his home. He was the husband of Catherine “Renie” Boyd Natale, who died in 2014, and with whom he shared 57 years of marriage.
Born in Darby, he was the ninth of thirteen children born to Frank and Susan (Della Vecchia) Natale.
Ray was drafted into the Army in June 1944, making him the fifth Natale son serving simultaneously in WWII. He was first sent to Camp Hood in Texas for basic training on a tank destroyer, after which he was sent to Fort Jackson, S.C., where he was part of the 659th Field Artillery Battalion, as a truck driver. He traveled to England then France being assigned to drive a weapons carrier to Germany and then to the Battle of the Ruhr Pocket, for which he received a battle star.
After returning home in June of 1946, he went on to complete his education and then enlisted with the Pennsylvania State Police in 1950. He proudly first served in Lancaster and then the Avondale barracks until his retirement as a corporal in 1979.
Ray is survived by one son, Raymond Natale Jr. and his girlfriend Dee Oliffe of West Grove; one daughter, Catherine Abernethy and her husband Jim of Landenberg; two grandchildren, Taylor and Austin Abernethy; one sister, Anne Cripe of Chadds Ford, and one brother, Donald Natale of Oxford.
In addition to his wife, Ray was predeceased by 10 siblings.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Assumption BVM Church, 300 State Road, West Grove. His funeral service will follow at 11. Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, RR # 2, Annville.
In memory of Ray, a contribution may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the American Cancer Society, 1626 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com
Arrangements by the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home, West Grove.
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