Raymond George Bettge, beloved husband, father and grandpa, died peacefully with his family by his side on December 10, 2024, after a short but valiant fight with cancer. He was 84 years old.

Ray was born and raised in Yoakum, Texas and was very proud of his Texas heritage, finding every opportunity to reminisce about the good old days in central Texas. He attended St. Joseph’s High School in Yoakum where he scored the very first touchdown of the school’s first football team. After graduating college at St. Mary’s in San Antonio, Ray joined the Army and got a summer job in Victoria Texas. It was there that he met the lovely Virginia Rider who was to become his wife for over 60 years. The couple started married life in Frankfurt Germany, where they welcomed their first child, daughter Cindy. After his time in active military, Ray continued in the National Guard and began his career in sales with General Foods (later Kraft Foods). Ray’s career took the family to many areas of Texas, where they welcomed daughter Amy in El Campo, and daughter Dana in Port Lavaca. The family eventually moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where Ray lived the next 42 years, retired, and spent quality time doing the things he loved

Ray liked banana pudding, Garth Brooks, good barbecue, and Rush Limbaugh. He loved Jesus and his Catholic faith and found joy and peace attending mass and bible studies. Ray was honored to serve as an AA sponsor for 37 years, where he helped countless people through their journeys with this organization. Ray could usually be found working in his yard, playing golf on a beautiful day, or taking his dog Maddie for long walks. Ray loved to laugh at and tell a good joke, try to replicate his mother’s sausage kolaches, and fish the gulf coast of his beloved Texas. He did not like lying politicians and hated deviled eggs. He was rather good at playing dominos and working jigsaw puzzles and could not pass up a dish of Blue Bell ice cream.

Ray was a wonderful husband and a kind and generous father. He was a steadfast friend and all-around good guy. He was extremely proud to be called “grandpa” by his four grandchildren and spent every minute he could making memories with them. He always looked forward to planning the annual family beach trips, from finding the location to shopping at Walmart for the deals on groceries, and could always be relied on to have some sort of shenanigans planned like a water balloon fight with his grandsons.

Ray is survived by his loving wife Virginia, daughter Cindy Robbins and husband Greg of Oak Island NC, daughter Amy Greene and husband John of Bradenton, Florida, and daughter Dana Bettge of Bradenton Florida. Grandchildren Alex Greene and wife Rubie, Carrie Greene, Drew Robbins and wife Bailey (with great grandbaby on the way), and granddaughter Lauren Greene. He will be missed by brother Paul Bettge and sister Mary Flynn, many nieces and nephews and cherished friends. Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Egon and Marie Bettge of Bay City, Texas.

A celebration of his life is planned for Monday, December 16^th at 2PM at Brunswick Funeral Home in Bolivia, NC.

Ray supported several charitable organizations, in lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to the Humane Society, a Christmas charity, or the organization of your choice in his name.