!!! UPDATE !!! INITIAL STAGING LOCATION CHANGE, SEE UPDATED TIME TABLE BELOW !!!The family of Ray Kirkland Phelps, USMC, has requested the Patriot Guard Riders in honoring their father, grandfather, and great grandfather as he is laid to rest, Friday, 24 June 2016, 1045 hrs, at the Bakersfield National Cemetery. It will be our honor to do so.
Ray Phelps served with the USMC from 1956-1959 attaining the rank of Lance Corporal. He was born in Texas in December of 1936 and died in Barstow on 13 June 2016. His place of entry to the service was in Albuquerque, NM. He served with the 12th Marine Corps reserve and recruitment district in Vallejo, CA. and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal. All his career was served stateside.
Serving in the military was a way of life for the Phelps family for many generations. Just recently Ray’s grandson was finished his career with the Marines according to our Hero's daughter Dorothy Layton.
Following his stint in the military our hero became a Pentecostal preacher and started a Four Square church in Tehachapi and pastored at a church in Arvin in the 70’s. He was a a Bible theology graduate which he took great pride in. Following his preaching days he was a self employed cement man and retired in 1995. He enjoyed woodworking and gardening and made furniture heirlooms for his family.
He became a resident of the Barstow Veterans Home 7 years ago and he and his present wife of 20 years, Sherry, both lived at the home until his passing.
He is survived by his wife Sherry Phelps, sister Faye Herndon and her husband Paul. His five children Cathy Kubicek and her husband John, Timothy Phelps, Kirk Phelps, Deborah Phelps and Dorothy Layton and her husband Thomas. Niece Taylor Herndon, Grandchildren Marian Kubicek, John Kubicek , Tyler Phelps, Patricia Phelps, Charli Phelps, Justin Phelps, Austin Phelps, Mackenzie Phelps, Cody Layton. Great grandchildren Trevor Kubicek, Easton, Sawyer, and Collins Phelps, Maley, Summer and Dolly Stuart and Kennedy Rhoades. -
This will be a Pony Express Mission starting at Mead Mortuary, 36930 Irwin Road, Barstow at 0730; travel to Boron Westbound Rest Area arriving approx 0815 meeting with members of the Central Calif PGR; KSU apprx 0830 to BNC.
TOTAL MILES APPROX 110 All times are subject to change.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to his final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
UPDATED TIME TABLE FOR FRIDAY 24 JUNE 2016: 0700: BEGIN ASSEMBLING AT DESERT VIEW MORTUARY, 11478 AMARGOSA RD., VICTORVILLE, CA 92392
https://goo.gl/maps/oBzg4Db9skm (NEW STAGING LOCATION)0715: BRIEFING
0730: KSU FOR WESTBOUND BORON REST AREA ARRIVE APPROX 0815
https://goo.gl/maps/a941nmKJod520830: KSU FOR BAKERSFIELD NATIONAL CEMETERY
https://goo.gl/maps/EHnNvwR8G4R20945: ARRIVE BNC
1015: STAGE AT CORTEGE LANE AND HONOR FAMILY.
1045: SERVICE RENDERED FOR OUR HERO
1115: DISMISSAL
RC BRIAN ZANE, SOCAL PGR R/C
“SPYDERMAN"brianzane@verizon.net
760-953-9915
CO RC JIM JACOBS, SO CENTRAL CAL R/C
"KICKSTAND"
jj33503@comcast.net
541-915-0877
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please post your condolences at the National link:
https://www.patriotguard.org/showthread.php?419411
