Calvin Ray Cress

Mr. Calvin Ray Cress, 83, of Advance passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born the only child to Hobert Ray and Capitola Bost Cress on November 1, 1932 in Mecklenburg County. He was married to the love of his life, Joan May, on July 1, 1953 at Augsburg Lutheran Church by Rev. Ray Fisher for 63 happy and blessed years. Ray was employed by J.C. Penney during high school and later by AT&T Western Electric (Lucent Technologies-Reynolda Rd.) where he worked for 37 years as a Technical Writer. He joined the U.S. Marine Corp from 1953 until 1957 attaining the rank of Sergeant and served on the USS Missouri. He graduated from Griffith High School and later at ICS. As a youth, he was a boy scout and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. After retiring, Ray enjoyed golfing, woodworking, gardening, driving his Kubota tractor, cutting trees for the firewood, camping and spending time with his wife and family. He also served as the co-chairman of the Board of Trustees of Macedonia Moravian Church where they built a half-million dollar educational building in 1988 that was dedicated without a debt. He served as a church diener and an Adult Sunday School teacher. Ray was a loving husband, Daddy, granddaddy, great-granddaddy and friend to his church and community. He was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his wife Joan; three children, Christine Miller (Ronnie) of Snow Hill, Dianna ""DeDe"" Pulliam Newman of Lewisville and Angela ""Angie"" Cress Jamie of Advance; seven grandchildren, Richard Cress Pulliam of Winston-Salem, Lauren Pulliam of Lewisville, Nicholas Pulliam of Winston-Salem, Amanda Jo-Wyn Miller Morris (John) of New Bern, Ashley Joyce Miller of Snow Hill and Jennifer and Stephanie Jamie of Advance; two great grandchildren, John Charles ""Scoot"" Morris III and Anna Jo-Wyn Morris of New Bern. A celebration of life service will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday at Macedonia Moravian Church with Rev. Hampton Morgan officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Autism Society, NC Special Olympics of Davie County, Macedonia Moravian Church or to a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com. A special heartfelt thanks to Dr. Copeland, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Sullivan and all the caring compassionate staff of ICCU and the Palliative Care Unit of Forsyth Medical Center. (Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel)

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