Ben Ray, who resided in Lavaca, Arkansas, passed away Sunday, April 1, 2018, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was born January 25, 1939, in Lavaca to the late Ben Eugene Ray and Ruby F. (Brunk) Ray. He was 79 years old.

Ben was a cable splicer for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and  AT&T. He was the owner of Rays R Back Real Estate of Lavaca, an U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, and he was a member of Lavaca First Baptist Church.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 5th, at First Baptist Church in Lavaca, with Pastor Joe Donahue and Dr. Darrel Ray officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be at 1:00 p.m. at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary (Stem) Ray; three sons, Ron Ray and wife Cindy of Lavaca, Darrel Ray and wife Tonia of Conway, and Steve Ray of Lavaca; one sister, Beverly Musgrave and husband George of Van Buren; four grandchildren, Shyla Hamrick and husband Chris, Scott Ray, Nathan Ray and wife Andi, and Hannah Ray; one great-grandson, Xade Ray.

Pallbearers will be  Dan Atkins, Jimmy Atkins, Matt Atkins, Tom Atkins, Nathan Ray and Scott Ray.

Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Jim Bean Sunday School Class.

The family will visit with friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday night at Lavaca First Baptist Church.

To view the video tribute, please visit http://videos.lifetributes.com/884054

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com .