Raymond Hawkins Sheen Obituary
On February 5, 2020, in Thousand Oaks, California, Ray Sheen passed away at the age of 96. Born in New Haven, CT, to parents Frank and Florence Sheen, Ray lived according to his favorite Bible verse, Micah 6:8, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”. Ray blessed countless people with his hugs and many acts of kindness.
He was known by many at United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks, where he was an active member for 54 years, as the “friendliest man at church”, and was given the affectionate title “Ray of Sunshine”. Ray graduated from Hillhouse High School in New Haven in 1940 and earned a BS degree from Yale University in 1943 and an MBA from Stanford University in 1957. He was captain of his high school and college hockey teams.
He retired in 1966 as a Commander, after 26 years in the Navy. He then moved with his family to Thousand Oaks, to start a second career at RAND Corporation in Santa Monica. He retired in 1978 as the Head of Facilities & Services.
Thereafter, he cheered the sick and elderly with his visits and indulged his passion for travel. Ray was a loving husband to his first wife, Marion Bell during their 41-year marriage, and a devoted father to his 3 daughters, Carolyn, Pam, and Nancy. After Marion’s death, he married Ruth Evens in 1991.
After Ruth’s death, he and Lois Olson Thorgusen were married in 2002. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Florence Sheen, his brother Vincent Sheen, and by his first 2 wives. He is survived by his third wife Lois, his daughters Carolyn Sheen, Pam Sheen, and Nancy Pasquarelli (Michael), his grandchildren Jason Lachowsky (Jessica), Seth Lachowsky (Mayra), Devin Lachowsky (Jenn), Heather Anderson (Kole), Mike Pasquarelli, Emmanuelle Quinn (Randi), and great-grandsons Jake and Noah Anderson.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray’s memory may be made to Buena Vista Hospice in Thousand Oaks, Nature Conservancy, or United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks.
