Ray Spencer Dolphin, 83, of Endicott, NY, passed away on Monday, August 3rd at UHS Wilson Medical Center, with his wife Beverly at his bedside.

Funeral service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Jefferson Ave, Endicott, on Thursday, August 20th at 1 pm, with Reverend John R. Martinichio of St. Paul's Episcopal Church officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather following the service in the lower level of the church for refreshments. A viewing will precede the service and will also be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church between 11 am and 1 pm. Colman & Daniels will be handling the funeral arrangements.

Ray was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Saul and Mildred (Becker) Dolphin on October 17, 1942. He attended Central High School and graduated in 1961. He went on to earn a degree in Engineering from Penn State. Early on he worked for the Department of Defense, NSA and later as a computer engineer for IBM Owego, Loral, and then Lockheed Martin for an additional 47 years. He enjoyed tennis and loved kayaking. He received numerous awards and recognition during his career and was a parishoner at St. Paul's Episcopal Church throughout the years.

Ray is survived by his beloved wife, Beverly (Slangan) Dolphin, and his children and their families: Son, Paul Dolphin, wife, Lisa (Cicio) Dolphin, and their children, Paige, Evan, and Josh, of Endicott, NY; Son, Glenn Dolphin, and his wife, Lu (Chen) Dolphin, and their children, Pearl, and Ruby, of Alberta, Canada and his daughter, May, and her mother, Michelle Dolphin; Daughter, Wendy Dolphin, and her children, Kali, Baylee, Siera, and Sam, of Kane, PA; Daughter, Carrie (Dolphin) Gordon, and her husband, Duane Gordon, and their children, Chloe and TR, of Cicero, NY.

He is also survived by his sister, Lynn (Dolphin) Davidson, and her husband, Herman Davidson, and their children, Keith, Corin, and their families.

He will also be lovingly remembered by his nephews, David Dolphin, Sean Dolphin, and Kevin Dolphin, and their families.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Saul and Mildred (Becker) Dolphin; his brother Alan and wife Sharon; and his father- and mother-in-law, Edward and Carrie (Rosengrant) Slangan.

Born during the difficult years of World War II, Ray grew up in a generation shaped by sacrifice, hard work, family, and making the most of what you had. Ray's earliest years were spent in Scranton, where family was at the center of his life. Ray grew up in a close-knit neighborhood with his older brother Alan and younger sister Lynn. He loved baseball and played Little League with his neighborhood friends, sponsored by Moffat Coal. His father, Saul, had been a minor-league catcher and had a deep understanding of baseball. Ray remembered hearing from one of his father's teammates about Saul's remarkable ability to read the field and direct the pitcher. After the war, Saul worked for the Lackawanna Railroad and walked 30 minutes each way, often leaving the family car parked at home. Ray understood that his parents had lived through the Depression and carried those lessons learned. They knew what it meant to have little, and they taught their children to work hard, save what they could, and appreciate what they had.

Among the lessons Ray carried throughout his life were the words and wisdom of his father. Saul taught him he should never compromise so much that he lost his integrity. Those words stayed with Ray and became part of the values he carried into his own life and passed on to his children.

Ray graduated from Central High School in Scranton in 1961. From an early age, there was an expectation in his family that he and his siblings would continue their education, and Ray embraced that opportunity. He began his studies in engineering at Penn State and continued his education throughout his life.

It was during the summer following his high school graduation that Ray met the young woman who would become his wife, Beverly Jean Slangan. Ray was working as a lifeguard at Scranton's South Side Pool when their paths first crossed. Their relationship grew as Ray continued his education and Beverly began her working career. They married on June 6, 1964, beginning a partnership that would last 62 years.

Their early married life took them to Laurel, Maryland, where Ray began working for the Department of Defense as an electronics technician. Their family quickly grew, with the birth of their son Paul in January 1965 and Glenn in December of that year. In 1967, Ray accepted a position with IBM in Owego, New York, bringing the family closer to their Scranton roots and allowing them to establish a home and raise their family in the Southern Tier. Four years later, Wendy joined the family, followed by Carrie two years after that.

That decision to move marked the beginning of an extraordinary 47-year career. Ray began at IBM as a Junior Programmer in 1966 and remained at the same facility until his retirement in 2013. Over the decades, the name on the building changed from IBM to Loral and eventually to Lockheed Martin, but Ray remained committed to his work and his colleagues.

Ray was never one to stop learning. While working full-time and raising a family, he continued his education. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Elmira College and later completed a Master of Science degree through Syracuse University. Ray also had a competitive spirit that stayed with him throughout his life. Tennis and racquetball became favorite pursuits, giving him plenty of opportunities to compete, improve his skills, and, most importantly, have fun with friends and family.

As the years went on, Ray found a new passion on the water: kayaking. What began as an activity became a decades-long tradition and an important part of his life. He participated in dozens of kayak races throughout the Adirondacks, often alongside family members and his best friend, Richard Molyneaux. Whether he was standing on a tennis court, holding a racquetball racket, cross country skiing, or paddling through the Adirondacks, Ray enjoyed the challenge of competition. He had a determination to do his best, but he also understood that the greatest reward was being together, enjoying the experience, and having a story to tell afterward.

Ray was a devoted husband and father. He worked hard to provide for his family, but some of his most meaningful contributions were found in the lessons he taught, the example he set, and the steady presence he provided. He encouraged his children to pursue their education, work hard, maintain their integrity, and make their own way in the world

He and Beverly eventually became grandparents to twelve grandchildren: Kali West, Paige Dolphin, Evan Dolphin, Baylee West, Josh Dolphin, Siera West, May Dolphin, Chloe Gordon, Sam West, TR Gordon, Pearl & Ruby Dolphin. Ray took great pride in celebrating their accomplishments and enjoyed the many moments that come with being surrounded by children and grandchildren, and he was always behind the camera; movie, picture, or video, capturing every moment as a keepsake. During this time, "Life is Good" was a recurring sentiment whether it was on his kayaking t-shirts, hat, or his outlook.

Ray Spencer Dolphin leaves behind a legacy built over a lifetime: a loving family, a long and devoted marriage, a meaningful career, a commitment to education, devoted friendships, and countless lessons passed quietly from one generation to the next.

He was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, friend, mentor, and keeper of family stories and values.

He lived a long and meaningful life. He worked hard. He loved his family. He stayed true to who he was.

And he left the world—and his family—a little better because he was here.

Live Link to Zoom Meeting for funeral service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82070780491?pwd=OUFxYmZRR0NsODExMW5mb3VjQWh5UT09