Arthur Ray Washington

(LaGRANGE, Ga.) Arthur Ray Washington, 82, of LaGrange, Ga., died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at Hospice LaGrange.

Mr. Washington was born March 15, 1927, in Randolph County, Ala., son of the late Arthur D. Washington and Eunice Shaw Washington. He had lived in LaGrange most of his life and was a member of East Vernon Baptist Church. Mr. Washington was employed with Independent Life Insurance Company as an insurance agent before retiring. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran serving in World War II and loved the outdoors and woodworking. In addition to his parents, Mr. Washington was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mary Jim Bailey Washington, and a son, Glenn Washington.

Survivors include his son, Jimmy Washington of LaGrange; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Erbis Tenant of Dublin, Ga., and Ilene Culpepper of Marianna, Fla.; several in-laws, including sister-in-law, Maxine Breed of Roanoke; and several nieces and nephew.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. EDT Friday, June 26, at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Dwayne Perdue officiating. Burial will follow in Restlawn Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. EDT.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice LaGrange, 1510 Vernon Rd., LaGrange, GA 30240.

Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, LaGrange.