Ray Paitsel

Ray Clayton Paitsel, age 84, of Covington, Virginia died Saturday, March 30, 2024 at LewisGale Hospital-Alleghany.

He was born July 5, 1939 in Selma, Virginia to the late Alpha Omega and Julia Stevens Paitsel. He was the last member of his immediate family. Ray grew up in Selma and graduated from Central High School where he played several sports. His favorite teams to watch were the Washington “Redskins” and the Atlanta Braves. He loved all sports but considered himself a basketball player. He worked for Kroger as the head produce clerk and retired after 40 years and served his country for six years with the Army National Guard. He loved to sing and make up songs about his family and life events. He was a teller of wild tales and writer of poems about dogs and fruitcake. Ray attended the First Christian Church in Covington for the past twenty years.

Ray was predeceased by his wife, Lois A. Paitsel, whom he loved very much, and helped raise her “three girls”. He was also predeceased by a grandson, Ben Jones and two granddaughters, Kimberly and Alyssa.

He is survived by his son, David R. Paitsel and wife, Carol (and her children, Connie and Charlie) of Millersville, PA; Lois’s “three girls”, Patricia Taylor of Texas, Linda Jones of Buena Vista, and Laura Campbell of Covington; five grandchildren, who loved him very much, Chris, Moriah, Hayley, Jesse, and Julia; nine great grandchildren; and many good friends including, Danny Taylor, who when told by Ray that he didn’t have the stamina to play 18 holes of golf anymore, replied with “then we’ll play 9”; and many nieces and nephews and his special cat, “Cat”.

Ray will be greatly and sadly missed by his family and friends.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 2:00PM in Central Advent Christian Cemetery, Clifton Forge with Reverend Bill Gilliland officiating. Interment will immediately follow. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge.