Ray Ellsworth Paulsen

At the age of 85, Ray Ellsworth Paulsen of Oakland, California, departed this earth on October 29, 2018. He was in the presence of his loving family at his son's home in Walnut Grove, California. Although Ray courageously battled Parkinson's disease in his later years of life, he remained a devout believer and was steadfast in his faith in the Heavenly Father until the very end so that his spiritual journey above could begin. Ray was born to Dorothy Alverson of California and Fritz (Fred) Paulsen of Denmark at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California on April 17, 1933. During Ray's childhood, his father worked as an enameller and foreman at Faerro Enamel and his mother was a housewife. Ray attended Webster Grammar School, Lockwood Junior High School, and graduated from Castlemont High School in Oakland, California, in 1951. It was at Castlemont High School that he met the love of his life and future wife, Julia Mae Poling through her brother Gary Poling who was classmates with Ray. During his last high school year and immediately after graduation, Ray worked part time and on inactive duty on various air planes and completed training for his Navy service in Oakland and El Centro, California, also attending the Laney School of Industry to learn his sheet metal skills. Ray joined the United States Navy on June 18, 1950 and would serve through December 17, 1955. He served during the Korean Conflict. Ray attended the (NTC) Navy Training Center in San Diego, California when he signed up for active duty in February 1954. Ray and Julia Mae Poling would wed on November 14, 1954 in Oakland, California, just one day after his return from Naval Tech Training in Memphis, Tennessee. He was granted a 10-day period of leave to get married, and two days later on November 16, 1954, he returned to the United States Naval Base and was assigned to the VF 142 The "Fighting Falcons" a Supersonic Navy Interceptor Swept Wing Squadron, as a metal smith aviation worker. Ray along with his squadron VF 142 were later assigned to the USS Boxer "CVA21” where he served on the aircraft carrier painting aircrafts for service. His tour took him too many exotic locations including Okinawa, Japan and the Subic Bay in the Philippines. After Ray's honorable discharge from the Navy in 1955, he and his wife lived in Hayward, California where he was a sheet metal worker. Ray and Julia have 3 children, David Everett born on December 26, 1956 in Oakland, California, Lynda Jeanne born on October 5, 1958 in Castro Valley and adopted a son, Richard Samuel Paulsen, born on November 27, 1975. In 1965, the Paulsen's moved from the Bay Area to live and settle into their long-time community of Amador County, California. Ray opened his own lumber business named "Prodigal Sons Building Supply" in Pine Grove/Pioneer, California off of Highway 88. The family took up residence there in the home located on the same property. Due to lack of lumber demand and competition from more established competitors, the business did not survive and eventually closed down. To provide for the family, Ray would travel to the Bay Area for work and come home on the weekends to be with his family. While in Amador County, Ray and his family were actively involved in the Pine Grove Church located in Pine Grove, California. The traveling took a toll on Ray and his family so they made the difficult decision to leave Pioneer and moved to Fremont, California in 1967. While there, Ray served as a Deacon at Calvary Baptist Church and Fremont Community Church. He also continued working in the sheet metal trade. It was here that Ray and Julia began their mission to serve as emergency foster caretakers to help many young kids displaced by all kinds of family problems, any time or day of the week. In 1978 Ray and Julia adopted one special foster child as their own, Richard Samuel Paulsen, at the age of 3-years-old. Because of the love and care they gave, many lives have been influenced by the Paulsen's. As a result of an on-the-job injury, Ray made a career shift and started studying real estate at Anthony School of Real Estate. He obtained his salesman license and acquired a broker's license, which would land him a job as sales manager of Coker Reality in Fremont, California. This new career path allowed the Paulsen's to make a move once again back to the town that had their hearts, Pioneer, California. Ray's real estate work was going well and he had the privilege of serving as the President of the Amador County Board of Realtors in Jackson, California, he opened a franchise of Red Carpet Real Estate in Pine Grove, California, and later started his own franchise office named "Kit Carson Realty. " Ray was a handy-man and took pride in remodeling his father's cabin to add a new bathroom and bedroom to the home, which they lived for some time with their adopted son Richard. The Paulsen's then purchased a 5-acre lot in Pine Grove, California, and with the help of many family and friends, built a new home there. For more than 10 years, Ray found reward in volunteering as the Chaplain at the California Youth Authority's Pine Grove Camp providing religious services and guidance through counseling and support to help many criminal wards find direction and accept the Lord into their lives. He was heavily involved with the M-2 Program at the camp where families would sponsor the wards from the camp and share their home and church families with them during the weekends. Ray also served in a number of different local churches in Pioneer, Pine Grove and Fremont, as a Sunday School teacher, elder, adult Bible teacher, and a boys' brigade leader. In 1990, he received a nomination for the First Lady of California Volunteer award and was recognized with a personal letter from Gloria Deukmejian, wife of the then Governor of California George Deukmejian. In 1990, Ray and family relocated to Southern California and lived in Indio, California where he was able to continue the real estate and property management work there. Ray continued to give back to others through his selfless volunteer work and served as the Chaplain for the Riverside County Fire Department. In a tragic turn of events, Ray and Julia's son Richard Samuel Paulsen passed away on November 1, 1993 in Palm Desert, California. In early 2000, Ray and Julia moved back to the Bay Area to retire in San Jose, California, living closer to their daughter Lynda and other Northern California family. To no surprise, Ray found a new role as volunteer Chaplain for the San Jose Police Department. Around 2006, Ray and Julia moved to Meadview, Arizona where they spent more time in retirement living close to his sister and brother-in-law (who were also husband and wife). The lord's word continued to guide Ray in service and he found a role teaching small bible study sessions with adults from the Meadview Baptist Church. Parkinson's disease eventually affected Ray's ability to serve in a volunteer capacity and in March of 2015, Ray and Julia moved to an independent living home in Elk Grove, California. At this time, Ray was able to concentrate solely on his role as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to all his family in California. In March 2018, Ray and Julia moved into their son and his wife's (David and Cyndy Paulsen) home in Walnut Grove, California. As best as he could, Ray focused on living each day in the name of the lord and embracing family memories and experiences. Ray was a noble man, a caring husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and found strength and solace in his everlasting faith. He enjoyed making memories with his family, working with his hands, giving back to others, spending time studying the word of the Lord, spending time in his workshops, and reading a good book. He will be forever remembered in the hearts and minds of all who his presence graced with his blue eyes, 6-foot-1-stature, and blonde hair, that is, until he lost it in his early 20s. Ray displayed strength and courage and his faith in God throughout his life until the very end. Ray leaves behind his wife of nearly 64 years, Julia Paulsen; son David E. Paulsen and his wife Cyndy ; daughter Lynda Paulsen and her husband Matthias Gobbles; sister Dottie Paulsen Poling and brother-in-law Gary Poling; foster son Rex Blackmon and wife Margie; granddaughter Lynda Amore and her husband Paul and children Haley Morrow and Heather Morrow; granddaughter Sarah Sciandri and her husband Gino and their children Luke and Leo; grandson Daniel Paulsen and his four children Connor, Emilie, Aaron, and Cassidie; grandson David J. Paulsen and his wife Teresa and their son Jacob with twin brother and sister due in early 2019; Joseph & Catherine. In addition to his son, Richard Samuel who died in 1993, Ray was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Dorothy and sister-in-law Floye Clark. Ray will be gently laid to rest near his beloved "hometown" community in Amador County at the Sunset View Cemetery in Jackson, California. If so inclined, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.