Raymond Weinheimer Bentley

R.W. “Ray” Bentley Born October 20, 1930 in San Diego, CA died to be with the Lord on October 23, 2012 in Tucson, AZ after a courageous battle with a long term illness. He was preceded in death by parents Carlota and Thomas W. Bentley. Ray is survived by Arlene, his loving wife of 57 years of Tucson; brother Thomas (Linda) Bentley of Belleville, IL; sons and daughter; John (Gail) Bentley of Tucson, James Bentley of Douglas, AZ, Christine Bentley and Jerald (Jill) Bentley both of Tucson. Grandchildren Angela (Robert) Burke, Jennifer (Christopher) Ryan, Carlota (Leroy) Love, Jeremy Bentley, Barbara Weeks, Justin (Cherah) Bentley, Jacqueline (Kenny) Kiene, Christopher Weeks, Nichole Bentley; and six great-grandchildren. Ray moved with his family from San Diego to Tucson in 1933. He graduated from Tucson High School. As a young man, Ray enjoyed working on cars, especially “hot rods” of the 50’s era. This affinity for machinery led him to the U.S. Navy where he proudly served on the destroyer USS Stembel as a Machinist Mate during the Korean War. He fell in love and married the former M. Arlene Schwenkler in Tucson on October 30, 1954 and they started a family in 1956. In his continuing keen interest with machines he sought employment at Hughes Aircraft Co., in Tucson and enjoyed working there for over 30 years starting as an apprentice machinist, attending the University of Arizona and becoming an engineer before retiring from Hughes in 1986. Ray and Arlene moved to Portland, OR in 1986 and Ray began teaching machine shop classes at Clackamas Community College. While in Portland they volunteered at The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in feeding and clothing the poor. In 1996 Ray retired from Clackamas College and they returned to Tucson to be with family and again volunteered for St. Vincent de Paul. Ray enjoyed traveling and volunteering with his love, Arlene, University of Arizona sports, Indy car racing, church and family activities. A private family memorial as requested by Ray was held on October 27, 2012 in Tucson. All through his life Ray was extremely proud of his service to our great country in the U.S. Navy and will be interred at Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma in San Diego, CA. As requested by Ray, please make your donations to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 829 S. 6th Ave., Tucson, AZ, 85701. Arrangements by BRING’S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway.