Born in Snoqualmie Falls in 1921, PFC Ray J. Patrick was a dedicated educator and World War II veteran whose life was defined by leadership and service to the Pacific Northwest. After completing three years of college and beginning a career in teaching, Ray enlisted in the Army on July 6, 1944, entering combat later in the war as a replacement in the B-Company, 304th Infantry Regiment, within the 76th Infantry Division. Following his military service in the European Theater, he returned to Washington to serve as a teacher and coach in Shelton from 1945 to 1953 before rising through the administrative ranks as a principal in Buckley and eventually retiring as the Superintendent of the Evergreen School District in Vancouver. Ray passed away on January 9, 1986, leaving behind a legacy of academic excellence and civic duty that is honored today at Shelton Memorial Park.
