PERU – Ray Doran Wentzell, 83, died Saturday, May 20, with family by his side at his home on the Ridge Road.

He was born Oct. 7, 1922, in Maplewood, Nova Scotia, Canada, a son of Morley and Goldie (Kaulback) Wentzell. He attended schools in Rumford.

Ray served in the U.S. Army as a private in F. Co., 38th Inf., 2nd Div. during World War II. He landed on Normandy Beach in France on D-Day plus 1 and was seriously wounded 78 days later on Breast Peninsula. He was in the hospital three months before returning to the United States. He received the Honorary Purple Heart in 1945.

Ray held many occupations, including shipyard worker, butcher and truck driver. He worked for Timberlands Logging in Dixfield as a truck driver for more than 22 years until his retirement in 1975.

Among the hobbies he enjoyed were farming, buying and selling scrap metal, fishing and going to county fairs with his grandchildren. He was a member of the VFW, DAV and the American Legion.

He was married Oct. 24, 1942, in Peru to Audrey L. Byron, who survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Beverly Crispin of Anson and RaeJean Moro and husband, John, of Peru; a son, Raymond Wentzell and wife, Sandra, of Peru; 15 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Faye Ledbetter of Washington, Ind., and Iris Theriault of Sanford; three sisters-in-law, Sylvia Donahue of Peru, Edith Wentzell of Mexico and Freda Byron of St. Johnsbury, Vt.; and a very special aunt, Audrey Porter of New York.

He was predeceased by his father, Morley, in 1976; his mother, Goldie, in 1993; brothers, Willis and Harding; and a sister, Florrie.


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