Dr. Thomas A. Ray, 89MUNCIE - Dr. Thomas A. Ray, 89, passed away on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.He was born on May 9, 1927 in Grant City, the eldest son of John W. and Mary (Addison) Ray. His formal education began at Central School and he graduated from Knightstown High School, class of 1945. Thomas was a student at Indiana University, Bloomington, graduated from Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University) and earned a doctorate degree from Indiana University.Dr. Ray was a teacher in the Union City, OH school system, Yorktown High School and became a professor of Music at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota. He was the conductor of the Mitchell Symphony Orchestra before joining the faculty at Ball State University in 1959. The orchestra, as a member of the National Symphony Orchestra League, awarded him the opportunity to study opera conducting at the Julliard School of Music in New York City in 1955 as well as a workshop in Mexico City, Mexico to study orchestral conducting with the world-famous conductor, Igor Markevitch.He served as the director of music at the Christian church in Union City, the Methodist church in Gaston, the Methodist church in Yorktown, the Congregational church in Mitchell, South Dakota and the Shawnee Heights Baptist Church in Muncie for forty some years. He was named the Lefler Award recipient for outstanding church laymen in 1964. In 1996, he received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Governor Evan Bayh. In 2004, he was listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and he was a founding member of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra in 1950. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Kappa Phi, the Indiana State Teachers Association and was a long-time contributor and supporter of the Knightstown Alumni Association. Dr. Ray was also a poet, publishing over one thousand poems in his writing career, which began in high school and continued for his lifetime.        Surviving are his wife of sixty-seven years, Patricia Richards Ray of Muncie; one daughter, Susan Crosby of Roachdale; two grandsons, Todd Allen Crosby of Muncie and Thomas Byron Crosby of Zionsville; and two great-grandchildren, Alexander and Allison Crosby.He was preceded in death by his parents and his only brother, Byron K. Ray.Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel with Reverend Dale Mendenhall officiating. Burial will follow in Jones Cemetery.Friends may call at The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2017.Memorial contributions may be directed to in the name of Dr. Thomas A. Ray to Ball State University Foundation, Alumni Center, Room 230, 2800 W. Bethel Avenue, Muncie, IN  47304.Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.meeksmortuary.com.