Raymond Charles Homolka, 78, of Albuquerque, NM, joined his Heavenly Father on Saturday, Aug. 29, after a courageous 3.5-year struggle with brain cancer.
Ray was born on Feb. 25, 1948, in Belleville, KS, to Charles A. Homolka and Faye E. Wineinger Homolka of Munden, KS. He graduated from Munden High School in 1966. He graduated from Kansas State College of Pittsburg (now Pittsburg State University) in May 1970, majoring in Automotive Technology.
On June 13, 1970, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pittsburg, Ray married Mary Jo Marschallinger after meeting at a college Newman Club event in Sept. of 1968.
Ray was a member of the Kansas Army National Guard, Pittsburg, from Nov. 1970 through Oct. 1976.
Many of the positions that Ray held utilized his extensive ability of diagnosing, then repairing mechanical and electrical issues. He worked as Warranty/Service Technician for IMS in Farmington, NM 1995-1997 and for HIX Corporation, Pittsburg, KS, 1988-1994. He worked at Ford Motor Company 1975-86, in the Kansas City area at the parts distribution center, then at the assembly plant. Ray also held positions as Production/Field Service Technician, Home Inspection Technician, and Automotive Repair Instructor.
Home for Ray was Munden, KS 1948-1969; Pittsburg, KS 1970-1974; Shawnee, KS 1975-87; back to Pittsburg 1988-1994; Farmington, NM 1995-2015. He then retired in Albuquerque, NM 2016.
Ray enjoyed sailing, motorcycle trail riding, camping, hiking, and snowshoeing. He found repairing Jeep Cherokees, classic motorcycles, and antique boat motors challenging and rewarding. All types of home and landscape improvements gave him great pleasure. He shared these skills and hobbies with many family members, friends, and neighbors.
For many years, hosting Coffee & Donuts after 8 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Parish in Farmington, NM reinforced the “church family” for Ray. In Albuquerque, he attended St. Jude Thaddeus Parish.
Ray is survived by his wife Mary Jo, son Chris, and granddaughters Katie and Madison, all of Albuquerque. Other survivors are brother Kay Homolka and wife Jean of Eudora, KS and sister Beverly Ronnabaum of Topeka, KS, and many others in the Homolka extended family. Ray is also survived by the following in-laws: Phil and Jean Falke of Odessa, MO; Joyce Feder of Stillwell, KS; Tim and Linda Collar of Lee’s Summit, MO; Paul and Irma Gaudutis of Oak Grove, MO; and many others in the Marschallinger extended family.
On Friday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m., Fr. Gnanasekar will lead a Rosary for Ray at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, 1104 20th St., Belleville, KS, followed by a short reception. The funeral Mass officiated by Fr. Gnanasekar will be held at St. George Church, 105 Myrza, Munden, KS at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Burial will follow at St. George Cemetery. Dinner will be served at St. George Church basement after burial.
The Homolka family requests no flowers please. Memorial donations may be given to St. George Parish or to Operation Smile.
