James Ray Shrout, 76, of Stephens City, VA passed peacefully from this life to his eternal home on Friday, January 18, 2019 at the Winchester Medical Center where he was admitted to critical care on January 14.

Better known by family and friends as “Ray”, he was born August 4, 1942 in Cumberland, MD, a son of James Elmer “Joney” and Elsie Ora Nestor Shrout. He grew up in Parsons, WV, and graduated from Parsons High School with the class of 1960. He was an active player with the school basketball and football teams.

On June 1, 1963 he was united in marriage to Pauletta Carolyn King, also from Parsons. They have celebrated fifty-five years of marriage and the highlight of their 50th Wedding Anniversary was joining a group of friends on a bus tour to Branson, MO, enjoying much fun, fellowship, and musical entertainment. Ray and Pauletta were honored at one of the shows and carried home with them many wonderful memories of the entire trip.
Preceding Ray in death besides his parents was his brother, Philip Alan Shrout, who lived and worked in Parsons, Falls Church, VA, Davis and the Mt. Storm area. He also served our country in the Navy.

Left to cherish Ray’s memory are his wife Pauletta and their three daughters: Sheila Elaine Chapman and husband Timothy of Stephens City, VA; Mendy ; and Ginger Deanne Hamlin and husband William of Gainesville, VA., and five grandchildren: Karaline Grace Chapman, Emily Nicole Hamlin and Olivia Mae Hamlin. Ray has been known to them as “Papaw” for nineteen years. He is also survived by his sister, Elsie Kathryn “Snookie” Davis and brother-in-law Arlie of Parsons, and sister-in-law Judith and husband Gene Williams of Romney, WV.

Also cherishing memories made with Ray are two nephews, four nieces, their spouses and children and grandchildren.

Ray’s employment included Lambert’s Chevrolet Garage and the Clover Farm Store in Parsons, The Pizza Box in Falls Church, VA, and the CBS Distributing Co., the Spaulding Distributing Co., and the King Wholesale Distributing Co. in the northern Virginia area. Ray received numerous awards and honors as a driver-salesman during his 40-year driver-salesman career. He retired from King Wholesale in 2009.

Ray and Pauletta lived in Manassas, VA for 36 years, sharing a cul-de-sac with some wonderful neighbors where their children grew up together and he was known as “a Good Samaritan.” A few years after his retirement they moved to Stephens City, always being fond of the Shenandoah Valley, and a shorter distance to their beloved Almost Heaven West Virginia, while not living too far from children and grandchildren.

Throughout his lifetime Ray enjoyed the outdoors including hunting, fishing, boating, camping, family reunions, cutting down trees, splitting wood, and doing lawn and garden work. In his later years he especially enjoyed antique shops, flea markets, handcrafted woodworking, a good domino challenge, and was skilled at working jigsaw puzzles. He was proud to have been labeled a “country boy” and whether working or playing he took time to smile, say hello, share a story or joke, trying to brighten someone’s day. Ray and Pauletta were affiliated with Agape Christian Church and The Life Church in Stephens City. “He surely will be missed, but he filled our cup with wonderful memories.”

Ray’s request for cremation will be honored and a private celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be sent to Stephens City Volunteer Fire and Rescue, 5346 Mulberry Street, Stephens City, VA 22655. The Omps Funeral Home in Winchester, VA has been entrusted with arrangements for James Ray Shrout.

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.