Roll Call Tribute

Published in Abilene Reporter-News from Mar. 11 to Mar. 12, 2015

George Ray Alderman
George Ray Alderman

Winters, TX

George Ray Alderman of Winters passed peacefully at Hendrick Hospice Care in Abilene on Saturday, March 7, 2015. Memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 141 North Church Street, Winters, TX 79567 at 2:00 PM on Friday, March 13th with the Reverend Bob Murchison and the Reverend Wilma Harris officiating. A reception will follow the service. 

Ray was born April 6, 1926 to George and Dora Alderman on the family farm in Nolan County near Blackwell and was one of six children. He graduated from Blackwell High School in 1943 and enrolled at Texas A&M College that summer. In 1944 he was appointed to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, and served in the last months of World War II as a Cadet Midshipman. He then spent a year-and-a-half as an able-bodied seaman shipping aboard various vessels sailing all over the world to earn money to continue his college education. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1948 and returned to Blackwell where he ranched, taught high school vocational agriculture, and served as County Vocational Coordinator for Nolan County for two y ears. In 1950 Ray joined the U.S. Air Force and became an F-84 Fighter Pilot with the 58th Fighter Group stationed in Korea. He received his Instructor's Rating and served on detached duty in Formosa (now Taiwan) for eight months teaching senior Chinese pilots how to fly F-84s. 

For his service Ray was made an honorary member of the Chinese Air Force and received his wings.

After returning to Blackwell, Ray met and married Mozelle Cave in 1954, and they had three children: Charles, Sydney and George. After finishing his military duty in Columbus, Ohio, in 1955 he returned to Baird, Texas, where he became the General Manager of the Callahan County Co-Op Feed Mill. In 1961, he purchased the C.L. Green Mill in Winters and officially renamed it Alderman-Cave Milling & Grain. 

In 1974, Ray married his true love, Billie Whiteside of Dallas. Billie and Ray spent many happy years traveling, attending A&M football games with friends, and participating in numerous civic activities. After Ray's retirement from the mill in 1982, he continued ranching in Coke, Nolan and Kent counties, as well as serving on numerous boards, including the Winters State Bank, Winters Funeral Home, Region 15 Education Board, and the Runnels County Water Association. Ray was appointed by the governor to the Upper Colorado River Authority, where he served for 18 years. He also served on the Winters City Council. In 1968 and 2010, he received the Winters Man of the Year award. 

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, George and Dora; a brother, Sidney; four sisters, Dora Alderman, Norene Chisholm, Dorothy Hammond, and Blanchie Cabaniss. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Billie; son Charles and wife Kay of Jayton, daughter Sydney Alderman Underwood and husband Brennan of Abilene; and son George and wife Michelle of Girard. He is also survived by grandchildren and great grandchildren Chuck Alderman, and sons Charlie and Mike of Stanton; Scarlett Alderman Davis, husband Jason, and children Hunter and Reba of Portland, Texas; Jamie Alderman and son Alex of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Hunter Haralson of Abilene; Dustin Alderman of Lubbock, Cheyenne Alderman and wife Ashton and sons Tadem and Titus of McCaulley; Crystal Alderman of Stephenville, and Brittany Alderman of Girard. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association   , 301 S. Pioneer Dr., Ste.105, Abilene, TX 79605, 325-672-2907.