Raymond Clarence Hawk, 93, of Valparaiso, Indiana passed away peacefully on September 10, 2025, after a brief illness. Born on June 17, 1932, in Gallipolis, Ohio, Ray lived a long and meaningful life defined by faith, family, service, and strength.
Raised on a farm in Gallipolis, Ray came from humble beginnings that instilled in him a strong work ethic and character. He graduated from Gallia Academy High School in 1950 and joined the United States Air Force the following year during the Korean War. Ray was especially proud of his security work while stationed at Roswell Army Air Field in New Mexico—a post later made famous in connection with Area 51 lore. After his service, he became the first in his family to attend college, using the GI Bill to earn a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Ohio University in 1958—a milestone that opened the door to a fulfilling career he approached with dedication and pride.
Ray devoted his professional life to Goodyear (a plant built in 1959 to produce rubber chemicals) in Apple Grove, West Virginia, where he formed lifelong friendships and made lasting contributions. One of his innovative and cost-saving ideas delivered major financial gains for the company and earned him a distinguished award, which led to a memorable journey through Europe. Among the highlights of his career was the opportunity to spend time in Japan, where he contributed to international plant operations. Though he retired in his early 50s, Ray's expertise was highly valued, and he continued working as a consultant on many projects.
Outside of work, Ray had many passions. He enjoyed golfing, planting and growing tomatoes, working on cars, and managing his rental properties. A self-made "MacGyver", he could fix just about anything and loved finding creative solutions to problems. In quieter moments, he could always be found enjoying a classic TV western. Never tiring of the reruns — he could probably recite half the dialogue before the cowboys even reached for their guns. He was a lifelong Ohio State Buckeyes fan and enjoyed cheering them on in the fall. His loyalty ran deep so he rarely passed up the chance for a good-natured jab, especially when the Buckeyes were winning.
He was married to his loving wife, Raymah (Fife) Hawk, for 42 wonderful years until her passing in 1999. Together they raised three children: Kevin Hawk (Tami) of IN, Tammy Cox (Frank) of SC, and Jennifer Boyd (Jeff) of OH. Ray was the proud grandfather of six and great-grandfather of nine, with a tenth on the way:
-Kelsey Moore (Micah) – children Eli and Finn of IN
-Seth Hawk (Sam) – children Olivia and River, of CO
-Katie Strickland (Caleb) – children Nora and Amelia of NC
-Jacob Cox of SC
-Hannah Berger (Jeremy) – children Emma, Theo, and Ellie of NC
-Caleb Boyd (Jenna) – expecting baby Cade Raymond of OH
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mary Hawk, his first wife Raymah, his second wife, Grace Folden Hawk, with whom he was blessed to share 19 years of life and companionship, and his siblings Robert Hawk and Naomi Haskins.
He is survived by his three children, six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, his sister—Ruth Ann Evans (Jerry), Grace’s two children—LuAnn Folden Burke (Greg) and Tony Folden (Tammy), and many nieces & nephews.
Ray was a man of deep faith and a longtime member of the Nazarene Church in Gallipolis before attending First Baptist Church later in life. Without fanfare, he showed others the way simply by how he lived. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, a caring father and grandfather, a cherished brother, uncle, and friend, and as a calm, steady provider who worked hard for his family. His legacy lives on through the family he loved, the lives he touched, and the many things he quietly built and repaired — both with his hands and his heart.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the compassionate staff of VNA NWI Hospice for their care and support during Ray’s final days.
A private family service will be held in his honor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to vnanwi.org/donate or mail donations to VNA NWI Hospice, 501 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, IN 46383 in memory of Ray.
GUESTBOOK
In the spring of 2005 I was asked if I wanted to be the 4th golfer for a round of golf at The Carolina Links, where I first met Ray Hawk. This was the beginning of a great friendship which endured until his passing. Over the twenty year period we discovered we had so much in common including both being from small Ohio towns (Buckeyes), attending Ohio Univ, living on the East green our freshman year (17 yrs apart) and both obtaining Bachelors of Science degrees. If that wasn’t enough, the “Bob Evans “connection, with my love of his sausage and Ray being neighbors and selling part of his property to Bob Evans. I learned so much from Ray and he was so willing to share his experience, knowledge, and friendship. I consider Ray to be FAMILY. Family, isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs, the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and you the same. AND the ones who care about you no matter what. Ray Hawk, Thank you for being a part of my life, and letting me be a part of yours, you will be missed my good friend. -Raeburn Evans MD
