Obituary for William "Ray" Busby
William “Ray” Busby of Waxahachie passed away on Friday, April 8, 2022 at the age of 85, after a courageous battle with cancer. Ray was born on July 25, 1936 to Emmett and Kathryn Embry Busby in Ft. Worth, TX, and moved to Waxahachie at the age of seven.
A long-time member of the College Street Church of Christ in Waxahachie (now Brown Street Church of Christ), he was baptized there at 14-years-old. Upon graduating Waxahachie High School in 1954, he started his undergraduate work at Abilene Christian College. It was there he met Kitty in the cafeteria, and the two were wed on November 9, 1956 in Orange, TX where Kitty grew up. Ray then graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX with his degree in electrical engineering, and received his Master’s in electrical engineering from the University of Houston.
Ray started his career at Westinghouse, first in Pittsburgh, PA and then in Baltimore, MD. From there he went to Houston where he was employed for six years at Houston Engineering Research. During this time, Ray and Kitty had their three children, Robert Ray (“Bob”), Ronald Keith, and Neta “Carol.” In 1966, they moved to Richardson, TX where he worked for Alcatel (formerly Rockwell and Collins Radio) for 32 years. He holds eight patents in his name for various parts he invented. During this time, he achieved a very high security clearance, and even designed parts for the space shuttle. Up until the last year of his life, he was always on his computer and knew more about technology in his eighties than most people half his age.
The two most important things to Ray were God and family. His favorite thing to do was travel and camp with his family. He showed his love in the wonderful way he provided for and supported his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren (who knew him as “Buzz”) and especially in the way he loved and cared for Kitty these last several years. He was a very patient, humble man with a deep faith who studied his Bible every day. He was very introspective and thought more than he talked, so if he had something to say–you better listen because it was important. In his younger years, he was a deacon in several congregations, as well as a Bible class teacher and Christian Action Group leader. He loved to sing and used to lead singing at church as well as sang in several friends’ weddings. It was very rare to ever hear Ray say anything negative about anyone, and throughout his entire battle with brain cancer, he never complained. Ray’s favorite color was always purple –the color of royalty–and we take comfort in the fact that he is now singing and praising the King.
Ray is survived by his loving wife of 65 years Kitty Busby, his daughter Carol Fittz and her husband David of Waxahachie, son Bob Busby and his wife Sherril of Fort Valley, GA, and son Ron Busby of Macon, GA. Grandchildren Andrew (Heather) Fittz of Plano, TX; Michael (Claire) Fittz of The Colony, TX; Katie (Collin) Harwell of Ennis, TX; T.R. (Katie) Busby, Randy (Rebecca) Busby, and Allyson (Adam) Genger of Georgia; Landon (Melou) Busby and Erica (Daniel) Dawkins of Florida, and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Emmett Hanning Busby and Kathryn Louise Embry Busby and one brother Wayne Busby. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Home Mission (4100 McNeil Ave. Wichita Falls, TX 76308; www.homemission.org.) The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Arabella Senior Living of Red Oak and Three Oaks Hospice for their wonderful care of Ray in his last months. A family graveside service will be at Broaddus Cemetery in Broaddus, TX on April 14, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Friends and family are invited to honor and celebrate the life of Ray on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Brown Street Church of Christ in Waxahachie, TX.
A long-time member of the College Street Church of Christ in Waxahachie (now Brown Street Church of Christ), he was baptized there at 14-years-old. Upon graduating Waxahachie High School in 1954, he started his undergraduate work at Abilene Christian College. It was there he met Kitty in the cafeteria, and the two were wed on November 9, 1956 in Orange, TX where Kitty grew up. Ray then graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX with his degree in electrical engineering, and received his Master’s in electrical engineering from the University of Houston.
Ray started his career at Westinghouse, first in Pittsburgh, PA and then in Baltimore, MD. From there he went to Houston where he was employed for six years at Houston Engineering Research. During this time, Ray and Kitty had their three children, Robert Ray (“Bob”), Ronald Keith, and Neta “Carol.” In 1966, they moved to Richardson, TX where he worked for Alcatel (formerly Rockwell and Collins Radio) for 32 years. He holds eight patents in his name for various parts he invented. During this time, he achieved a very high security clearance, and even designed parts for the space shuttle. Up until the last year of his life, he was always on his computer and knew more about technology in his eighties than most people half his age.
The two most important things to Ray were God and family. His favorite thing to do was travel and camp with his family. He showed his love in the wonderful way he provided for and supported his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren (who knew him as “Buzz”) and especially in the way he loved and cared for Kitty these last several years. He was a very patient, humble man with a deep faith who studied his Bible every day. He was very introspective and thought more than he talked, so if he had something to say–you better listen because it was important. In his younger years, he was a deacon in several congregations, as well as a Bible class teacher and Christian Action Group leader. He loved to sing and used to lead singing at church as well as sang in several friends’ weddings. It was very rare to ever hear Ray say anything negative about anyone, and throughout his entire battle with brain cancer, he never complained. Ray’s favorite color was always purple –the color of royalty–and we take comfort in the fact that he is now singing and praising the King.
Ray is survived by his loving wife of 65 years Kitty Busby, his daughter Carol Fittz and her husband David of Waxahachie, son Bob Busby and his wife Sherril of Fort Valley, GA, and son Ron Busby of Macon, GA. Grandchildren Andrew (Heather) Fittz of Plano, TX; Michael (Claire) Fittz of The Colony, TX; Katie (Collin) Harwell of Ennis, TX; T.R. (Katie) Busby, Randy (Rebecca) Busby, and Allyson (Adam) Genger of Georgia; Landon (Melou) Busby and Erica (Daniel) Dawkins of Florida, and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Emmett Hanning Busby and Kathryn Louise Embry Busby and one brother Wayne Busby. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Home Mission (4100 McNeil Ave. Wichita Falls, TX 76308; www.homemission.org.) The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Arabella Senior Living of Red Oak and Three Oaks Hospice for their wonderful care of Ray in his last months. A family graveside service will be at Broaddus Cemetery in Broaddus, TX on April 14, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Friends and family are invited to honor and celebrate the life of Ray on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Brown Street Church of Christ in Waxahachie, TX.