Ray R. Coulter

Ray R. Coulter, 90, of Marshalltown died Tuesday April 14th, 2009 at Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center.A celebration of Rays life will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 17th at Mitchell Family Funeral Home with Pastor Tom Woodin officiating. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Shriners Childrens Hospital. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Ray and his family, phone 641-844-1234.Ray was born May 14th, 1918 in LaMoille, to parents Gaylord and Mary (Benson) Coulter. He graduated from LaMoille Consolidated School, then worked as a machinist at Fisher Controls. Ray then was a machinist for the Ordinance Plant in Ankeny. He then served his country honorably in the United States Navy from 1942-1945. While in the Navy, Ray served as a machinist, quickly advancing to Machinist Mate 1st Class. On October 31st, 1944, Ray was united in marriage to Kathryn Paul in Marshalltown. Upon his discharge from the Navy, the couple made their home in Marshalltown, where Ray worked at Gray-Iron until 1959. Ray then opened Coulter Cigar Store. He owned and operated the store until his retirement in 1977.Ray was a 50+ year member of the Albion Masonic Lodge, the American Legion, and VFW, as well as a member of Shriners ZA-GA-ZIG. He loved golf, and the company of people, being able to strike up a conversation with anyone. Ray will be greatly missed by his family, and all who knew and loved him. Left to mourn their loss, and celebrate Rays life is his daughter Virginia (Jerry) Boblenz of Moravia; his grandsons David (Jen) Boblenz of Iowa City and Steve (Sarah) Boblenz of Prairie City; his six great-grandchildren; his sister Dorothy Johnson of Brainerd, MN and his brother Jim Coulter of Marshalltown; several nieces and nephews, as well as many friends. In death, Ray has rejoined his parents, his beloved wife, his grandson Paul, his brothers Leonard and Orville Coulter, and his sister Irene Bunting.