Ray Donald Romain

Pastor Ray Donald Romain, age 89 years, a resident of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away Thursday afternoon, August 1, 2024, at 1:22 P.M. at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah. Ray was born May 28, 1935 in Paducah, Kentucky. He was the son of Samuel Earl Romain and Mary Ann (Boswell) Romain. On June 22, 1956, Ray was united in marriage to Virginia Mae Tharp in Paducah, Kentucky. She preceded him in death on March 29, 2019. Ray is survived by: his children – David (Patricia) Romain, Deborah (Christopher) Griffiths, Mindy (Jeff) Treat, Elizabeth Romain, and Rev. Richard (Pat) Romain; grandchildren – Isaiah, Johnathan, Patrick, Ethan, Noah, Holly, Heather, Jennifer, Jason, and Jeremy; great-grandchildren – Waylon, Adrienne, Harrison, Gavin, Emilia, Sullivan, Charlotte, Harper, Sawyer, Sarah, Sammy, Stella, Austin, Bryson, Caylee, Brianna, Blake, Christopher, Alexis, Hannah, Sydney, Grayson, and Brandon; great-great grandchildren – Barrett and Annalese; a niece – Mary (the late Steve) Morris and their children – Cameron, Samantha, & Cody. In addition to his parents and wife, Ray was preceded in death by: a sister – Gertrude Dickson. Ray served honorably in the National Guard. He served as a member of the honor guard at the funeral service for former Vice President Alben Barkley in 1956. Ray was a lifelong Apostolic Pastor. He was a graduate of the Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota. While residing in St. Paul, Ray was employed at Olson Bakery. He also had worked for seven years in the sheet metal department of Maytag, Inc. in Newton, Iowa, where he operated a dry coating machine. Ray had also been employed by Oscar Mayer Meat Packing, Co. in Davenport, Iowa. Ray served as pastor of Apostolic Faith Church in Newton, Iowa for 11 years. He also held the office of Presbyter for the Iowa District, UPCI. In 1979, Ray founded Calvary Apostolic Tabernacle in Paducah. He served as pastor for 32 years, prior to his retirement. Ray was instrumental in overseeing many church fundraising projects through the years. He was an ordained pastor in the United Pentecostal Church International. Ray’s community involvement was recognized by his being named both a Kentucky Colonel and a Duke of Paducah. Ray is remembered as an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and taxidermy. Ray was also a very talented and skilled carpenter and craftsman. He was a staunch supporter of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. A funeral service honoring the life of Pastor Ray D. Romain will be conducted Monday afternoon, August 5, 2024, at 1 P.M. at New Life Apostolic Tabernacle, 1117 Bell Avenue, Paducah, Kentucky. Rev. Richard Romain, a son, along with Rev. Christopher Griffiths and Rev. Jeff Treat, both sons-in-law of Pastor Romain, will officiate along with personal remarks, memories and musical selections shared by other family members. Burial will be in the Mount Kenton Cemetery in Paducah. Visitation will be conducted Sunday, August 4, 2024, from 4 P.M. until 7 P.M. at New Life Apostolic Tabernacle in Paducah. There will also be a time of visitation on Monday, August 5, 2024, from 12 Noon until the funeral hour. Memorials may be made to the New Life Apostolic Tabernacle (mission outreach), P.O. Box 4107, Paducah, Kentucky 42003. The family invites those attending the visitation and service to show their Wildcat pride by wearing University of Kentucky apparel. For those unable to personally attend the service, the ceremony will be livestreamed via the New Life Apostolic Tabernacle Facebook page.

Ray Donald Romain

May 28, 1935 - August 1, 2024