Ray Dutton Anderson passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Hilltop House.

Ray was born on October 15, 1928, in Winchester, VA in the long since torn down Winchester Hospital. He, along with his siblings, lived in Winchester for some odd years, after the rent was raised, they moved in with their grandparents. They all lived in a log slab house on what was then Rt.1 and is now Rt.50 East from Winchester to Washington. They were extremely poor, yet all the kids did well for themselves. Ray went off to join the U.S. Navy and trained at the U.S. Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, IL and was then sent into the Korean War. Along with so many others he worked on getting America’s first nuclear submarine into the water. Ray spent time on a submarine tender ship the USS Bushnell #15. His military experience changed him so much that he was able to get the training and hands on education that gave him the skills for his future jobs.

Ray and his new wife, Joyce, bought a small house in Middletown, VA and later they built a new house in the Green Springs area on Cedar Grove Rd. outside of Winchester. A true artist, Ray, took on many obsessions, one of which was covering his house in stone, he cut and fitted each stone for the house with a hammer and chisel. Ray had an engineering mind and never made a sketch of anything he built. He was an artist with a pen & pencil, metal, wood, masonry, welding and was a tool & die master. Ray mastered engraving, metal and wood carving and stonework that he did for others.

Ray was a member of the Shenandoah Valley Steam & Gas Association where he took his steam engine to run and display. He and his friend Jim would take their engines to various train shows in places like Liberty Corners, NJ and PA.

He retired in 1992 from Crown, Cork & Seal and then went to work part-time at Food Lion in Stephens City.

The pandemic took a toll on Ray, yet he survived. Ray last lived at Hilltop House Assisted Living, where the staff took very good care of him and he was well liked by the patients and staff. He spent some time at the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV where he received excellent care. Many thanks go to Debra Wells and the entire staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs and to the Department of the Navy.

Ray is survived by his daughter, Cindy, his son, Donald, granddaughter, Ellen, sister, Hilda, nephews, Tony Strosnider (Lisa), Doug Hardy (Donna), Greg Strosnider, sister-in-law, Peggy Holster and dear friends, Bessie and Brenda.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Mae; wife, Joyce; sister, Virginia “Ginny” and brothers, Charles and Russell Anderson.

A service will be held for Ray on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 11am in Shenandoah Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel. Officiating will be Pastor David Witt.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Ray to Martinsburg VA Medical Center in memory of Ray Anderson, Hospice Unit Donation, c/o Voluntary Services Terry Stotler, 510 Butler Ave, 1st Floor, Martinsburg, WV 25405.