Romeo Raymond (Ray) Del Vecchio, DPh
Retired - Ray's Pharmacy

Born on July 1, 1928 to Etterina and Alfonso Del Vecchio in Hawthorne, New York. Ray lost his battle with cancer. He attended elementary and junior high school in Hawthorne, NY and graduated from Pleasantville High School, NY in 1946. Ray received his Bachelor's Degree from Fordham University's school of Pharmacy and Pharmacology in 1951.

He married the love of his life, Karin Haverty in White Plains, New York April 19, 1952. He entered the United States Army in April 1954 and served most of his enlisted time at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Upon his departure from the service in 1956, Ray and Karin purchased the existing Stinson Drug Store located at 432 'D' Avenue in Lawton Oklahoma. They remained at the same location as Ray's Pharmacy until 1971 when Urban Renewal forced them to relocate. Ray and his business partner built Gore Plaza shopping center where he moved Ray's Pharmacy to 1821 Gore Blvd. Ray and Karin ran the family business for almost 45 years when he retired in November of 2000. All three Del Vecchio children proudly worked in the family business while attending school.

Ray was a Charter Member of the Morning Breakfast Optimist Club, the Four Seasons Dance Club, Lawton Community Theater since 1956, a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, the Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Association and the National Association of Druggists, the Downtown Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus 3rd and 4th Degree, the Lawton Chamber of Commerce, a Life Member of the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Opera Guild and Lawton Community Concert. Ray also served on the Board of Directors for the Center for Creative Living, Armed Forces USO, the Southwest Oklahoma Ski Club, and the Lawton Heritage Association.

In 1985, Ray founded the Order or the Son's of Italy's local Leonardo da Vinci Lodge #2573 and served as the President for five terms. The organization has since changed it's name to the Italian American Club of Southwest Oklahoma.

A long time member of the Holy Family Catholic Church, Ray will be remembered for his love of life, family and friends, his passion for his Italian heritage and for his generosity and kindness towards so many people that touched his life. Ray enjoyed much of his retirement traveling abroad and continued to work as a relief Pharmacists for several local pharmacies.

Ray leaves behind his best friend and wife, Karin of 51 years and his cherished family, Duane of Lawton, Darren of Lawton and Dawn of Fort Worth, Texas, his sister Clara Staiti and husband Freddie of Brooklyn, NY, his brother Al Del Vecchio and wife Sallie of Columbia, South Carolina, and several nieces and nephews and numerous relatives in Abruzzi, Italy.

Ray has joined his parents Etterina and Alfonso and sister Lydia Del Vecchio.