Ray R. Biege, Jr.

Ray Richard Biege Jr. Dick too many of his friends and fellow professionals, age 87, died at Colin Oaks Assisted Living Community in Plano, Texas, Saturday, May 30, 2009. Ray's physical person succumbed to cancer, but the memory of his gregarious, intelligent, and loving spirit lives on in all who knew him.



Ray was born and grew up in Stafford, Kansas where his love for cars, from his father the mechanic, Ray Biege Sr. and music, from his lovely mother Nathalie Jeanette, began to grow and shape his life. Ray began driving at the age of nine, delivering cars and parts for dad, but found time to practice the violin for his mother and of course he was always busy carrying on with friends. Ray was in the school orchestra and later formed a dance band to pursue his love of the drums and big band music.



In 1941 Ray graduate from Kansas State University with a degree in Civil Engineering which took him to Tifton, Georgia to work for Curtis Wright Aircraft. There he met, fell in love with and married his lifelong soul mate, Jeanne Summerford Biege on New Years Eve, 1942.



In 1944 Ray heard the call and joined the United States Navy where he began a second career as an officer in the Navy Sea Bees. Following active duty tours in World War II and Korea, Ray remained in service to the United States Naval Reserve. Ray was commissioned as an officer in July of 1944 and became a Captain in October 1965 becoming one of the youngest Captains in the Naval Reserve where he continued until retirement serving for over 30 years.



In his civilian life Ray continued his work as an engineer for the then Kansas Highway Department and retired decades later as the Director of Personnel for the Kansas Department of Transportation.



Ray is survived by his daughter and her husband Kathy and Louis Salseda; his son and his wife, Don and Terry Biege; four grandchildren, Jeff Biege, Michael and Lindsay Salseda, and Whitney Biege and Erin Cell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his cherished son Richard and his beloved wife Jeanne.



Services for Ray R. Biege Jr. will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2009 at the First Christian Church 1880 SW Gage in Topeka. Graveside services with military honors will be at noon on Saturday at the Stafford Cemetery in Stafford Kansas. Ray will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday and visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.