Deaths of Vorace ‘Ray’ Smith, Ruby Calahan, and Mrs. Joel Bwana

Deaths of Vorace ‘Ray’ Smith, Ruby Callahan, and Mrs. Joel Bwana

On March 18, 2016, Ryan Smith, son of CCOG member Dr. Ray Smith, told me his father died.  Dr. Smith lived in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Here are some statements from an email from him:

This is Ryan Smith, Ray’s son.  I wanted to reach out and let you know of my father’s passing last night at his home in Frankfort, Kentucky.  He died around 7 PM peacefully in bed most likely from a ruptured aneurysm.  He was found in bed with his dog next to him and his hand on the Bible so it was as good of a passing as any. We are very saddened by the loss but also consider it a blessing with all the health problems he has experienced in recent years.

Dr. Smith had never quite been the same since having his stroke, but was very pleased that he found the Continuing Church of God.  And while I knew that, it was nice to also hear it from his son when we spoke later that day.

I knew Dr. Ray Smith for many years and was able to meet him personally at the CCOG Feast of Tabernacles’ site in Orlando, Florida in 2014.

Ryan Smith, wanting to be respectful of his father’s religious beliefs, asked me if we could either send someone to conduct the funeral or at least send him scriptures that we would like read.

As it turned out, although we did not have any member near enough to conduct the funeral, there was a COG man in the area who was acquainted with us and me him.  His name is Larry Carmichael.  So I called him and he graciously agreed to conduct the funeral service.

I was pleased that we were able to have Larry Carmichael conduct the service and am grateful to him for doing so.  Larry Carmichael informed me that the funeral for Dr. Vorace ‘Ray’ Smith is scheduled for Tuesday March 22, 2016 at 1:30 pm as 201 St. Clair St., Franfort, Kentucky.

There is also another death to report:

Ruby Calahan of Milwaukee Wisconsin passed away quietly on March 20, 2016, at 2:00 pm, after a six-month battle with cancer. She was 71 years old and has been a faithful member of God’s Church since 1983. She is survived by her daughter and two grandsons. Ruby will be remembered for her gentle nature and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Ruby was a ‘pioneer’ in the Continuing Church of God as she (along with her friend Beverly Bivens) attended our first Feast of Tabernacles in the USA in 2013.  And I have seen her at all the CCOG USA sites since as well.

I have asked someone in CCOG to conduct the funeral for Ruby who has known Ruby for some time. The funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Though I do not mention all deaths here, Joel Bwana of Nigeria reported that his wife died on 3/13/16, and he and I are saddened by his loss. He did not provide her name nor any details about her death.