Major Ray Cushman, USAF retired, passed away on February 4, 2015, in Lompoc, California. He was born on Christmas Day in 1921, at home in the "old brass bed" in Midvale, Utah, to Joseph and Elsie Cushman. He was the youngest sibling to brother Jack and sister Dorothy Welch, both deceased.

Ray completed two years at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, just prior to World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and began flying gliders. Two of his most memorable duty assignments were in Newfoundland, where he landed ski-equipped C-47 cargo planes on large ice islands to resupply workers, and then at the end of World War II when he flew supplies into Germany defying Stalin's Berlin Blockade, later known as the Berlin Airlift. After 20 years, he retired from the Air Force and went on to build most of the houses and the Country Club in Vandenberg Village while working for the Vandenberg Village Development Company.

Ray was an avid golfer at the Country Club and had an amazing six holes-in-one. Ray was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Betty Mae Holley. He was blessed to find his second love, Dottie, whom he spent the last 27 years with. In addition to wife Dottie, Ray leaves behind two sons, Michael Ray Cushman, USMC, (Sheri) of Alliance, Ohio and Joseph Kevin Cushman (Cathy) of Upland, California. He is also survived by five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Donations may be made to the Air Force Aid Society, Inc., 241 18th Street
South, Suite 202, Arlington, VA, 22202 or a charity of your choice.