The Reverend Raymond L. McGinnis, 88, of Heritage Village in Gerry went to his eternal reward on Saturday, October 13, 2018 in Heritage Village Health Care Center, bringing to a close a lifetime of service to God and his fellowman. He was born on December 27, 1929 in Barboursville, WV, the only child of Luther B. and Mamie M (Butcher) McGinnis.
He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by Marjorie, his wife of 60 years; a daughter, Dixie (Garth) Bolinder of Rogers, AR; and four sons, Melvin of Frewsburg, Merlin (Angela) of Spencerport, Mark (Karla) of Altamont, IL and Max (Kristin) of Brighton, NY; as well as 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Rev. Ray McGinnis spent 48 years in pastoral ministry. He started in rural Pennsylvania in Monaca (1951-1953) before attending and graduating from Roberts Wesleyan College (1958). After college, he pastored in West Hamlin, WV (1958-1959) and then to Gerry (1959-1963). While at Gerry, he lectured and conducted tours at the Holy Land replica at Chautauqua Institution. After Gerry, he pastored in Ayersville, OH (1963-1968). It was during this time he graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary (1967) and was a 1st Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol as a chaplain. He returned to Western New York in 1968, pastoring Free Methodist churches in Brockport (1968-1978) and North Chili (1978-1984). In 1984, he returned to Gerry and pastored the church from 1984-1994. After retiring from the pastorate, he became the first full-time chaplain of Heritage Ministries, serving from 1994 to 2000. He then filled in for Kiantone Congregational Church for two years and the First Baptist Church for one.
A celebration of the life of "Pastor Ray" will be held at the Gerry Free Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 20. Calling hours will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, October 19 at the Jordan Funeral Home in Sinclairville.
Memorials can be given in lieu of flowers to Heritage Ministries, Starflight, or Northeastern Seminary.
Obituary from the Observer
