Evelyn Mary Ray

Evelyn Ray, 92, of New Philadelphia, died Wednesday, March 23, 2011 in Union Hospital at Dover.A daughter of the late William and Anna (Wilkinson) Spahr, Evelyn was born April 21, 1918 in Mill Township, OhioEvelyn was a 1938 graduate of New Philadelphia High School and on June 8, 1940, she married Ernest Ralph Ray. The couple shared 68 years of marriage prior to Ernest’s passing on March 31, 2009.She was a member of First Christian Church at New Philadelphia. Evelyn enjoyed knitting, sewing and tending to her gardens as well as playing cards with her friends.She is survived by her son, Richard (Silvia) Ray of New Philadelphia; a daughter, Anita Kniphuisen of Tucson, Arizona; six grandchildren, Sonia (Josh) Walker, Nicholas Ray, both of New Philadelphia, Richard (Lori) Kniphuisen of Avondale, Arizona, Raymond (Theresa) Kniphuisen, of Midlothian, Virginia, Daniel (Martha) Kniphuisen of San Diego, California, and Christopher (Mary) Kniphuisen of Tucson, Arizona; two great-grandchildren, David and Cara Kniphuisen of Midlothian, Virgnia; a brother, Gerald (Ilene) Spahr of Grand Island, Nebraska and numerous nieces and nephews.Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son-in-law, Raymond Kniphuisen and two brothers, Kenneth and David Spahr.The family will receive friends on Friday (Today), March 25, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Evelyn’s life will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 11 a.m. in the First Christian Church at New Philadelphia with Pastor Jim Borton officiating. Burial will follow in Sherrodsville Memory Gardens. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held in the Geib Family Center at New Philadelphia.Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and view an online memorial by visiting the funeral home website.