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Wallace Funeral Home
Barboursville, WV FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

Barboursville, West Virginia 25504
Phone: (304) 736-3431
Fax: (304) 736-3469
Contact us with questions and comments
Web Site: http://www.timeformemory.com/wallace

William Daniel "Danny" Ray II Click for Condolences      Printable Version
1961 - 2016

William Daniel William Daniel Ray II, "Danny,” “Mom's beautiful boy”, 54, died unexpectedly on March 2, at Cabell Huntington Hospital. He was the son of Patricia Hope "Pat" and William Daniel "Bill Dan" Ray; brother of sisters and sister-in-laws, Toodie Ray and Donna Earles and Jessica Ray and Dawn Rollin; uncle of Ian Marshall and Morgan Hope Thomas. He also leaves behind Aunts: Janet Chaffin, Vicki Smith, Peg Roberson, and Patty Ann Schulze, two special cousins, Jeane and Billy Jack Chaffin, a surrogate sister, Karen Irwin, longtime friend, Clara Adkins, four legged friend, Sadie, and scores of cousins, friends, students, and colleagues too numerous to name. He loved us all with his great big heart. He was preceded in death by maternal and paternal grand parents, Irene and Jesse Chaffin and Hester and Dayton Faulkner; two aunts: Judy Chaffin and Lucille Chaffin; five uncles: Frank Ray, Donald Chaffin, Pete Roberson, Tony Chaffin, and Bill Jack Chaffin, and a first cousin: Jeff Ray. Danny was the coach and director of "The Thundering Word," Marshall University's Speech and Debate Team, taking them from literally non-existing to a nationally ranked team in just a few short years. His team members, present and past, all the high school students he worked with, the national university speech family along with Marshall's campus, both students and faculty will miss him profoundly. Danny worked in professional theatre in New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Yet it is the tri-state theatre community that has lost one of its finest actors, singers, dancers, directors, and most of all audience members. Ask anyone who has ever been on stage in this community and they will say, “If Danny was in the audience, you knew it”…he had the biggest, loudest laugh that rang-out through Marshall’s theatres, Huntington’s, Beckley’s, or Logan’s amphitheatres, and Huntington’s City Hall’s or Museum of Art’s auditoriums. He is perhaps best remembered for the characters of Alfred P. Doolittle from My Fair Lady, Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof, and his favorite role, the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz. Just like the lion, Danny taught so many people to look inside themselves and find the courage that was there all along whether it was to study hard to pass a test, score an A on an oral presentation, win a speech trophy, or bring down the house with the role of a life time. Our family will heal but will forever have a hole in its heart that can never be filled. We will miss his infectious laugh, his brilliance, his game playing skills and great story telling; we’ve lost the “Danny Way.” He was a member of Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the church. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Wallace Funeral Home & Chapel, with a Celebration of Life service starting at 8 p.m. The service will be led by the Rev. Patrick Ryan. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/wallace.

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There are currently 21 condolences.


Tori Wucher
Saturday March 5, 2016 at 10:22 AM

There have been many eloquent tributes to Danny that are so true. So many of these have expressed my heartfelt feelings. Danny touched so many lives. My condolences to the family. His life was a blessing to all that knew him. R.I.P.
 
Aurora and Don Rollin
Arollin2@yahoo.com
Saturday March 5, 2016 at 9:12 AM

Was in shock when Dawn called and told me about Danny. I have been at a lose for words on what to say to our extended family. Danny was so much fun when we all got together in Georgia. My granddaughters also remember all the fun they had one summer we spent together. He was great with them. I'm so sorry for you loss my heart hoes out to all of you. Love you all!!
 
Ruth Adkins Flint
Saturday March 5, 2016 at 1:04 AM

Pat, Bill Dan, Toodie and Jessica, I am so sorry for your loss. All of you are in my prayers. Ruth
 
Brian M. Fenton
Friday March 4, 2016 at 7:19 PM

Will Be Missed Greatly !
 
Barbara Peduzzi
Friday March 4, 2016 at 6:02 PM

I remember Danny Ray well from his Hew York theatre days here in Chatham. All of us at Mac-Haydn send sympathy to his family and friends.
 
Wanda Childs
Friday March 4, 2016 at 5:58 PM

I am so heartsick for your loss. I only saw Danny a couple of times, but it was so obvious how wonderful he was and how much he loved you and you loved him. You are all in my prayers.
 
Lori Kirwan Moore
Friday March 4, 2016 at 5:30 PM

Thinking of all of you..... Danny was a great soul, A very sweet man Who will be missed by Everyone's Heart 3 He Ever Touched Love You Guys Lori
 
Ryan Louis
Friday March 4, 2016 at 3:49 PM

One thing about Danny to remember is the SCOPE of his love. I live in Kansas--but for a community like the one he cultivated, his friends and faithful followers are all over. I can't make it to the funeral because of the distance, but I will spend time reflecting on (and cherishing) the friendship we had started to build.
 
Kim Parsons
Friday March 4, 2016 at 11:58 AM

Such a lovely obituary. I loved my friend Danny so much and he holds a very special place in my heart. I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
 
Gina Kates
Friday March 4, 2016 at 11:03 AM

My sincere condolences to Danny's family. The Marshall community will certainly miss Danny and his heartfelt love for the Debate team and his students in the Communication Studies Department.
 
Michael Gore
Friday March 4, 2016 at 11:03 AM

Words cannot express the hurt I feel inside and the pain I wish I could take away from this beautiful family. Thank you so much for sharing Danny with us all these years. My condolences and prayers are with you all.
 
Mark Hickman
Friday March 4, 2016 at 10:22 AM

Danny was a true friend who had the biggest heart and the biggest laugh. Never at a loss for words, he was always entertaining on and off stage. Words cannot ever express the profound sense of loss I feel at his passing. Danny, you will be deeply missed, my friend. To Toodie and the rest of Danny's immediate and extended family, I hope that knowing so many people share in your grief and are sending you their prayers brings you some small measure of comfort. May the strength of your faith and the love of family and friends help you through this tremendous loss.
 
LarryCartmill
Friday March 4, 2016 at 9:46 AM

Bill Dan and family, I am so sorry and saddened for your loss. You will be in my thoughts....
 
Jennifer Earles Follis
Friday March 4, 2016 at 9:39 AM

Don and I are so sorry for your loss. Love, Jennifer and Don Follis (Donna's sister)
 
Eleanor Stambaugh
Friday March 4, 2016 at 9:20 AM

Danny was in my training class at AT&T and really inspired me with his knowledge. He was the "class clown" and kept us all smiling and happy. So glad I had this opportunity to know him. He was loved by all. He will be missed. May his family and friends be comforted during this time.
 
tim murray
Friday March 4, 2016 at 8:51 AM

my sister & myself grew up living beside the ray family .. remember toodie & danny & jessica, was a little girl when we moved to kentucky in 1976..remember donnie ,randy , & jena chaffin that use to come stay with them in summer time .. i see them every now & then .. thoughts & prayers ... to all .... the murray family ...
 
Tami, Bruce, Kalyn, Megan Molnar
Friday March 4, 2016 at 8:28 AM

Our heart breaks with your loss. I will remember Danny as a man full of laughter and always willing to play any and all card games! May God give strength and peace through this difficult time. We love you all!
 
Marsha Smith
Friday March 4, 2016 at 7:21 AM

Danny was a beautiful man! My heart goes out to the family. Sincerely, Marsha Smith
 
Bev Thomson
Friday March 4, 2016 at 6:47 AM

Our family (I am Donna's sister) is so sorry for your loss. We know how dear Danny was to all of you. He lived such a large life and we know you, as well as the many others whose lives he touched, will miss him terribly. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
 
Katrina Sillaman (née Hatcher)
Thursday March 3, 2016 at 8:54 PM

I know that you have seen the impact Danny had on so many. I wad one of those. He was really the first person to believe in me. He challenged me and taught me things that now seem second nature. I owe all of my theatrical roots to Danny. He absolutely was a beautifil person who truly desired to see everyone love each other and make good decisions. I also love that he had no qualms about telling you like it is, too. A true friend will hold up a mirror to show you the mud on your face and then help you clean it off. That was Danny. My prayers are with you in this hard time, and I wish I could be there for the service, but I live in Baltimore now. I will be thinking of you Friday night.
 
Jen Flinchum
Thursday March 3, 2016 at 8:39 PM

You will be missed.
 







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