The Life of RAY A FENTON
Ray A. Fenton, 74, died peacefully and surrounded by his family Monday, August 8, 2005, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 12 at New Hope United Methodist Church.
Ray was born August 13, 1930 in Buckingham, IA, the son of A. R. and Beth (Lambert) Fenton. He graduated from Tech High School in 1947. Ray attended and played football for Iowa State University before entering the Air Force in 1949. He was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. He received his undergraduate degree from Ohio State University in 1952 and his Law Degree from Drake University in 1957. In 1954, Ray married Felicia Senecaut and two sons, Greg and Terry, were born to this union.
Ray was in private practice in the law firm of Hawkins, Fenton and Scalise before becoming Polk County Attorney in 1965, where he remained until being appointed as a District Court Judge in 1977 by then Governor Robert D. Ray. In 1984, Ray married Barbara McFarland. He retired from the bench in July of 1998, but kept active by joining the law firm of Hudson, Mallaney and Shindler, of counsel, until his death.
Ray was a member of the Polk County Bar Association, a volunteer at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and had served as a Drake Relays official for 16 years. He was a 33rd degree Mason and a member of Home Lodge, Des Moines Consistory, Za-Ga-Zig Shrine and Royal Order of Jesters. Ray was a former secretary of the Iowa Golden Gloves and a member of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. He enjoyed crosswords, cribbage, fishing, shooting craps, listening to the blues and following the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Deloris Fenton and his cherished felines, Alexis and Krystal. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Greg and Terry (Jeff); grandson, Jamie; sister, Elizabeth (Max) Isaacson; father and mother-in-law, Jim and Ethelyn McFarland; brother-in-law, Bob (Cynthia) McFarland and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Westover Funeral Home with a Masonic Service at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Mercy Hospice in Johnston, New Hope United Methodist Church in Des Moines, The Iowa Golden Gloves or to a charity of the donor's choice in Ray's memory.