Born at home in the Covers House. Various records list it as 1913, 1914 or 1915. Year is 1915 from a family bible, military records and his death certificate (although the death cert also says he was 70 in Aug 1984); but his brother agreed with Soc. Sec. that it was 1913 (based on their age difference). However, this would make it a year before his parents marriage, where his mother was listed as pregnant. He is listed as age 5 in the Jan 1920 census, indicating that he was born in 1914, which matches school records, although the year 1915 is used here.
In the 1930 census, he was listed as 14 years old. At the time of his birth they had to give at least an initial for the middle name so that is the reason for the J., but for military and his first marriage, he is listed as Raymond Jay Wells.
Listed with his parents in 1940 at age 24, having completed only a year of high school. He was working on a Roofing crew.
Served as a Navy gunner, in combat in WWII from 26 Jun 1941 until his release date on 7 Nov 1945. He met Jessie Gardner in San Diego, and they were married in Cleveland after his separation from the Navy. They initially lived in Mansfield, and his brother Jay and wife Jeanne lived with them from June to September 1946.
They later moved to California as well, and lived in the California central valley, where they finally got water to farm with. Had no children with his first wife Jessie, and they divorced in 1948/49, with Ray returning to Ohio.
In 1950 Raymond J. Wells (35, OH) is listed as a farmer with his parents and new wife Anna M. (25, OH) as well as step-daughter Myrna A. Clark (6, OH) from her prior marriage.
Ray had 7 children with his second wife, Margaret. He was injured at work (PPG) about 1966, never returned to work, and was retired from PPG. Also moved from the farm to the house on Devilbiss Rd as a result.
He died Aug 1984 in Knox Community Hospital from hepatic failure resulting from cirrhosis of the liver and a hemorrhage.
He was cremated.