Ray Louis Kreider

Ray was born February 10, 1937 in Campbelltown, Pa., to Ethan and Esther Books Kreider. He was the 5th of six children in the family.

During his teen years, he worked hard on various farms in his home area to earn spending money. At Hershey High School, he was active in extra-curricular activities, particularly track and football. In his senior year he received "outstanding valuable player" award in the Harrisburg metro area and in Pa. area leagues.

Ray attended Messiah College and West Chester State Teachers' College where he received a Bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education. He went on to earn a Master of Education degree at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland.

Most of his professional teaching life was spent in Baltimore County, Maryland, at Loch Raven Junior High School and Lansdowne Senior High School where he was head football coach as well as a coach of track and lacrosse teams. After treatment for Hodgkin's Disease, he returned as a volunteer coach until the time of his death. (Just the fall before he died, Ray had been given a "clean bill of health" from the cancer.)

While Ray had many friends, he didn't marry until the age of 34. In July of l971, he married Colleen Barkovich. This marriage ended in divorce in l977, and in l980 he married Debbie Moran and became a loving step-father to her two children, Don and Danielle.

Ray was a member of the Palmyra, Pa., Brethren in Christ Church throughout his high school years. While living and teaching in Baltimore he became a member of the Loch Raven United Methodist Church and was head usher there. Ray also served in the United States Air Force Reserve at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

Ray valued family ties; he was very close to Harold's family and spent much time with his niece and nephews when both brothers lived in Baltimore. He grew closer to Dad and Mother, taking them on a trip to Boston, Massachusetts, to visit Marlin, a trip to Columbus, Ohio, to see Harold's family, and a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia.

Ray died on January 5, 1984, a month before his 47th birthday, in Baltimore, Md., where he made his home. He was jogging in his neighborhood when he collapsed and died without regaining consciousness. Both Ray's students and colleagues were impacted by his sudden death. A tribute to his life is evidenced by the presence of his entire football team (approximately 50 boys) at his funeral. The following newspaper quotes also reveal the regard and esteem that Ray earned in his brief lifetime.

His principal commented, "Mr. Kreider was brought to Lansdowne because he was the ideal man to put an organization together. He became known for his willingness to go out of his way to lend a helping hand. The teacher and coach set an example of moral integrity." (Baltimore Sun, January 8, 1984)

Lansdowne's head football coach, Dick Moore, was quoted as saying, "Ray was more than a teacher. He taught classes during the day and continued to teach students when the school day ended. He had an inner reaction with the students. They seemed to sense that. They would come to him when they had big problems. Ray would always listen. No one can replace Ray Kreider." (The Arbutus Times, January 11, l984.)