A Fitting Obituary for My Grandpa

Raymond Paul Horspool Sr. (1920 - 2011)

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RAYMOND PAUL HORSPOOL, SR. Longtime resident of Riverside, passed away on March 13, 2011 at the age of 90. Ray was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 21, 1920 to George and Kathryn Horspool. While in early childhood, Ray\'s family moved to Los Angeles, California. Ray attended David Starr Jordan High, graduating at 16 years of age and was valedictorian of his class. Ray enrolled at UCLA in Sept. of 1938 and was in the first Naval ROTC class from which he graduated in June, 1942. After graduation from the Naval ROTC program, Ray was immediately commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy and shipped out to join the war. On June 24, 1942 Ray began his first assignment as an Assistant Gunnery Office aboard the USS Lamson. While attending Ordinance and Gunnery School in Washington, DC, Ray met Margaret Farley. Ray married Margaret on August 26, 1944. At the end of World War II. Ray returned to UCLA and graduated in 1949 with a degree in Chemistry and became an Agricultural Chemist. He accepted a job at the UCR Citrus Experimental Station and moved his family to Riverside. When the Korean Conflict broke out, having a sense to serve his country, Ray returned to active duty in the Navy and served as an executive officer aboard the USS Massey. In 1952, at the end of the Korean Conflict, Ray returned to Riverside, his job at UCR and the Naval Reserve. Ray ran the Naval Reserve Unit in San Bernardino, CA during the Vietnam conflict overseeing the training of the reserve units that were shipped out to Vietnam. Ray retired from the Naval Reserve in 1973 with the rank of Captain. In 1955 Ray began his 30 year career at FMC from which he retired in August, 1985. During his time at FMC he developed several new processes in the application for and the preservation of fruits and vegetables. Ray proved to be invaluable to FMC during his employment with the company. Ray was a prominent figure in the citrus industry in the United States and around the world. Ray was an enthusiastic genealogist, an avid gardener, a devoted husband and father and an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is survived by his second wife, his nine children, 29 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren. A memorial service to honor Ray will be held today, Saturday, April 23, 2011, at 2:00 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 181 E. Blaine St. in Riverside. Ray\'s interment was in Roanoke, Virginia on March 22, 2011 with full military honors and next to his first wife Margaret.