William Lance Ray

William “Lance” Ray, age 54 of Covington, passed away Thursday, August 15, 2024 at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton.  Lance was born in Troy on May 22, 1970 to Billie Joe Ray and Sherry Lee (Blackmore) Drake; was a graduate of Piqua High School, Class of 1988; received his Associate Degree from Hocking College in 1992; and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Bluffton University in 2001.  Lance served the citizens of Miami County for over 30 years; as the Superintendent of West Central Juvenile Detention Center for 17 years; Miami County Park District Ranger; member of the Miami County Board of Elections; member of the Republican Central Committee and Men’s Republican Party.  He was also Past Treasurer for at least 25 years of the Ohio Juvenile Detention Director’s Association; President Emeritus (president for more than 10 years) of the Ohio Juvenile Detention Services Association; a member and secretary of the Miami County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #58.  Lance loved motorcycles, Cincinnati Red’s baseball, The Ohio State University football; enjoyed watching birds and eagles, camping, making pens and bottle stoppers; attended every sporting event that his children participated in at Covington schools; enjoyed fishing, golfing, hunting; and loved “papaw’s girl”, Bindi.  Preceded in death by his grandparents; step-dad, Rich Drake; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Frank & Amy Lemmon.  Survived by his father and step-mother, Billie & Patti Ray; his mother, Sherry Drake; his step-grandmother, Treva Jean Blackmore; his wife, Wendy (Lemmon) Ray, who had been with him for 38 years, (they met on a baseball field) and married June 11, 1993 (31 years).  Also survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Taylor Ray & husband, Brayden Collier and son, Hunter Ray & his girlfriend, Lexis Wilson; siblings, Tony & Missy Barnes, Shawn & Terri Ray, and Heather Ray & Brian Marshall; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.  Memorial Service 10:00 AM Saturday at Stocker-Fraley Funeral Home, Bradford with Pastor Greg Simmons officiating.  Interment of cremains at Miami Memorial Park Cemetery, Covington with Last Call Memorial Services.  Visitation 4-8 PM Friday at the funeral home.  Donations may be made to the FOP Lodge #58, Christmas Outreach Programs and Services (COPS) event.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.stockerfraley.com. “Hold your loved ones tight, time slips through your fingers!”