Ray Vaal, 77, St. Meinrad

Ray Vaal, 77, of St. Meinrad, passed away Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at Memorial Hospital in Jasper.

He was born May 19, 1940, in St. Meinrad to Robert and Mildred (Gogel) Vaal. He married Janet McNelis on June 9, 1962, in Precious Blood Church in Jasper.

Ray was owner of Vaals Appliance Store. He was a member of St. Meinrad Fire Department since 1958. He served as chief and most recently as assistant chief. Ray served in the National Guard. He was member of St. Meinrad American Legion Post 366.  Ray enjoyed four-wheeling and restoring his 1947 Jeep.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Vaal of St. Meinrad; a son, Jeff (Toni) Vaal of St. Meinrad ; one daughter, Schelly (Jon) Songer of Jasper; one brother, James (Clara Mae) Vaal of Ferdinand; seven sisters, Dorothy Gehlhausen, Ruthie (Rich) Clark and Connie (Randy) Hildenbrand, all of Ferdinand, Bettye (Leroy) Greulich of St. Meinrad, Norma Amos of Huntingburg, Kathy (Bill) Hopf of Jasper, Toni Mundy of Nicholasville, Ky.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 10:00 a.m. CST in St. Meinrad Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday from 1 to 7 p.m. CST at Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until service time at the church.

Online condolences at www.becherfuneralhome.com.