Catherine Schroeder and Herbert E. Ray

HERBERT E. RAY, son of MARY ALICE MILLER and THOMAS FRANK RAY, was born February 16, 1887 in Wayne County, Indiana,¹²² and died February 10, 1954.⁸⁹ He is buried in Earlham Cemetery, Richmond, Wayne, Indiana.^{1125, 5996}

He married CATHERINE SCHROEDER on August 22, 1939 in Wayne County, Indiana.⁸⁷⁹⁰ She was born June 12, 1912 in Richmond, Wayne, Indiana,⁵⁹⁹⁷ and died April 26, 1995 in Reid Memorial Hospital, Wayne County, Indiana.⁵⁹⁹⁷ She is buried in Earlham Cemetery, Richmond, Wayne, Indiana.⁵⁹⁹⁷

• Descendant Reports
  • William H. Thompson Descendant Report (Ancestor of Herbert E. Ray)
  • Alexander Blair Descendant Report (Ancestor of Herbert E. Ray)

Palladium-Item and Sun-Telegram, February 11, 1954⁵⁹⁹⁶

Herbert Ray, Former Richmond Chief Of Police, Dies At 66

By W. R. Emslie

Herbert E. (Bumps) Ray, Richmond police chief during part of the hectic prohibition and bank robbery days of the early 1930'2, died Wednesday afternoon. Ray was 66 years old.

Taking office in 1930, under Mayor Windsor B. Harris, Chief Ray found the department stalled in its transition from horses to motor cars and floundering in its attemps to counter crime which had gone modern. He served through 1934.

His efforts quickly made Richmond's police depatment, although small, one of the most effective in the United States.

It became under his diection the first department in Indiana and the first among small cities in the United States to operate a police radio station.

when he took over, the department was almost entirely on foot, its motor equipment including a curtain - enclosed combined ambulance and prisoner wagon, two passenger cars and a motorcyle.

Buys Vehicles

Cheif Ray got the board of safety to purchase a fleet of fast cruisers, a new ambulsnce and a fast emergency car, equipped with bullet proof glass and bullet proof tires.

Then he pushed through the plan for the police radio station and all cars were equipped with receiving sets.

Chief Ray also ordered purchase of automatic rifles, high-powered shotguns and ordered the emergency car equipped with a machine gun.

Richmond then, as it now is, was the crossroads for north - south and east - west traffic and its roads were known routes for bank robbers and bootleggers on the run.

During part of the period when Chief Ray was in office, patrol car crew members wore bullet proof vests for their protection.

Chief Ray, an immaculate dresser himself, insisted that his men appear in public in spotless uniforms and with their shoes well shined.

It was one of his proud boasts that "those guys," meaning bank robbers, "may go throu here," but they had better not try to stop.

Trained Local Men

During his regime, Chief Ray started complete co-operation for the first time with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and started bringing experts in crime detection into Richmond to train department members.

Prior to being named police chief, Ray had been a Wayne county deputy sheriff and served for a time as riding bailiff of Wayne Circuit court. He also was at one time a member of the Richmond fire department.

He was a man of dry wit, whose pointed remarks could always be counted on for a good laugh. Despite his sense of humor, Chief Ray was a stickler for discipline and would brook no shirking of duty by members of the department.

The board of works adopted a resolution on the death of the former chief, Thursday, ordering it made a part of the record of the board.

He last was employed at the Wayne Dairy. He was forced into retirement eight years ago when he fell from a step-ladder at the dairy. He had worked there for 15 years.

He has been residing at 224 South Sixth street.

He was a member of the Elks lodge and a life member of the American Trapshooting association.

The former police chief was a brother of Harry Ray, who died in action in World War I, and for whom Harry Ray post, no. 65, the American Legion, was named.

Survivors include his widow, Catherine Schroder Ray and three sisters, Mrs. Tennie Mathews of Rushville, Mrs. Florence Ascher and Mrs. A. J. Smith, both of Washington, D. C.

Funeral services for Mr. Ray will be held at 2 p. m. Saturday at the Doan and Son funeral home with Rev. Robert Fribley officiating. Burial will be in Earlham cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after Friday noon.

Palladium-Item, April 27, 1995⁵⁹⁹⁷

Catherine S. Ray

Catherine S. Ray, 82, of Richmond, died Wednesday, April 26 at Reid Hospital, after a sudden illness. She was born June 12, 1912 in Richmond to Bernard and Irene Smithmeyer Schroeder. She had lived in Richmond all her life and had been an independent public accountant. She was a member of the Altrusa Club, the Womens Club, and the Indiana Society of Public Accountants.

Survivors include on sister, Lucille Schroeder or Richmond; one brother, Henry Schroder of Huntington Station, N.Y.; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Ray; two brothers; and three sisters.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at Stegall-Berheide-Orr Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Todd Riebe officiating. Burial will be in Earlham Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 28 at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made a favority charity.

Earlham Cemetery, Richmond, Wayne, Indiana

Herbert E. Ray