Pastor Ray Caldwell was born in Streater, Illinois, on August 24, 1942, to Estelle (Egbert) and George Caldwell. Ray is the third of five children born to George and Estelle. Ray gave his heart to Jesus as a young boy in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from Thornridge High School in Dalton, Illinois in 1961, and worked several jobs to finance his education at Thornton Community College.

Ray later enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he proudly served his country from 1965-1971 as an air traffic controller and meteorologist. He married his bride, Valerie Birkett, on January 7, 1966. They resided in Pensacola, Florida and Okinawa during those six years of military service. Following his military discharge, Ray worked at the World Home Bible League and at other jobs until he returned to air traffic control in Nashville, Tennessee. While there, he attended Emmanuel Theological Seminary and earned his Master of Divinity.  Following that, he pursued his Doctor of Divinity at Andersonville Theological Seminary, completing all but two of the required courses to graduate.

As an ordained EFCA pastor, he was busy serving churches in Tennessee, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Alaska. He also served as the Dean of the Alaskan Moravian Seminary in Bethel, Alaska for several years. Due to many health struggles, Ray retired to Rice Lake, Wisconsin and then to Cherokee, Iowa, from where he was promoted to heaven on July 12, 2024, at age 81.

Ray is survived by his bride, Valerie, and 3 sons: Bennie Ray (Tammy), Joel Alan (Karin), and Jonathan Paul (Yvonne); 2 siblings, Trina (Dennis) Stump and Jerry Caldwell; thirteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two siblings, Sheela and Melba and his son Robert John.

A God- honoring celebration of Pastor Ray's life, a man who loved serving His Savior, family and everyone he met, will be held at Meriden Evangelical Free Church on July 27, 2024, at 11:00 am with a meal to follow and 3:00 p.m. interment at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee, Iowa with military rites to be performed by the L.A. Wescott Post #2253 and the Cherokee American Legion. The Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Ray's honor to the Gideons or Salvation Army. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.