89, of Ocklawaha, Florida, retired director of distribution at the Union Carbide plant in South Charleston, West Virginia, died December 4, 2009 in Dallas, Texas while visiting family. A native of Gates Mills, Ohio, Ray was born June 15, 1920 in Montreal, Wisconsin, graduated from Shaker Heights (Ohio) High School in 1938 and from the University of Michigan in 1942. He received his bachelor degree in chemical engineering and was a hurdler on the track team. Immediately upon graduation from college he joined the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lt. and was assigned to Patton's Vanguard, the 4th Armored Division of General Patton's Third Army. Mr. Gauthier landed at Omaha Beach in June, 1944 with the second wave of infantry and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. Following the war, he joined Union Carbide and participated in the development and marketing of the insecticide 6-12, polyurethane and other products. He was assigned to the Sea Drift, Texas plant for several years before returning to South Charleston as director of distribution. He was a former resident of Victoria, Texas. After retiring from Union Carbide in 1978, he served one year as County Administrator of Kanawha County, West Virginia. He and his wife, Frances, retired to Lake Weir in Ocklawaha, Florida in 1979, where he was active in the Chamber of Commerce and the Ocklawaha Volunteer Fire Department. He was a director of Goodwill Industries, a member of the Kanawha County Subcommittee on Transportation and was active in Kiwanis Club. He was predeceased by his parents Napoleon and Olive (Reeves) Gauthier, brother, Kenneth, whose plane was lost over France during WWII, a sister, Elizabeth Vanek, and an infant daughter, Diane Rae. Ray is survived by his wife, the former Frances Myers, three daughters, Barbara Darden and her husband, Kenneth, of Dallas, Texas, Connie Chabot and her husband, Leo, of North Andover, Massachusetts, Jane Fyffe and her husband, Jack, of Colleyville, Texas, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 11, 2009 in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery with a memorial service to follow in Belleview, Florida.