Longtime Lincoln County educator Ray Isaacs died peacefully on August 24th, 2023, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He was 93 years old. If you attended public school in Lincoln County, WV from 1954 to 1978, there’s a strong possibility that you once had Ray Isaacs as a teacher.
Ray was born in Ona, WV on May 31st, 1930, and was raised in Lincoln County WV. His father was a station master for the C&O Railroad, and his mother operated the combination General Store and US Post Office in McCorkle, WV from 1938 until her retirement in 1965. After graduating from Duval High School in Griffithsville, WV in 1947, Ray earned a Bachelor’s Degree in biology and sciences from Morris Harvey College in Charleston, WV (Now the University Of Charleston). He later earned a Master’s Degree in biology from West Virginia University, and another Master’s Degree in education from West Virginia State College. Beginning in 1954, Ray began teaching at various Lincoln County, WV schools on all levels, from elementary to high school, and also served as Principal of the elementary school located in Sumerco, WV. After nearly 24 years of teaching students at seven elementary schools and two high schools in Lincoln County, Ray transferred to Putnam County, WV, where he continued working until his retirement from full-time teaching in 1986. After retiring, Ray still taught on a part-time basis as a substitute in Carter County, KY, and he taught adult education classes and courses for US Citizenship through the Morehead State University Satellite Program well.
Aside from many years as an educator, Ray was also a 33rd Degree Mason, having been accepted into Lodge #71 in Griffithsville, WV in 1961. He was a member of the Beni Kedem Shriners Temple in Charleston, WV, and was very active in that organization during the 1970’s. He took part in community fund-raisers and parades for several years. Ray was a veteran and served in both the US Army and US Air Force. While he spent a total of five years on active duty, most of his 20-plus year military career was reserve duty with the WV Air National Guard. He often encouraged students to consider military service as an option if they did not want to attend college. One student in particular later credited Ray as the main influence for becoming a jet aircraft mechanic and serving in the US Air Force himself for 30 years.
Ray had a passion for model railroads, his collection of train layouts of various sizes and gauges rivaled many museum-quality displays. He also collected old movies and theater projectors, which he enjoyed repairing and rebuilding.
Ray was preceded in death by his two older brothers, Willis “Bud” Isaacs and Renny Isaacs, Jr. He is survived by his longtime companion, best friend, and wife, Ruth Pauley Isaacs of Gallipolis, Ohio. He often credited Ruth as “The best friend I could ever hope to have.” He is also survived by one son, John Isaacs, and his family, of York, Maine.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 28, 2023, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be 3:30 p.m., at East Carter County Memory Gardens, Grayson, KY.
