Raymond G. Teborek

Raymond George Teborek passed peacefully while vacationing in Hilo, Hawaii, on February 22nd from complications from a heart attack, with his loving and devoted son, David, and daughter in-law, Susan, holding his hands. Ray was one day shy of his 86th birthday.

Born in Chicago to Czech immigrant parents, August and Anna Teborek, Ray was active in high school as a cheerleader, participated in school plays, and was on his high school and college swimming and diving teams. At a young age, he became an avid stamp collector, model train enthusiast and fisherman. To the end, he loved the challenge of a good crossword puzzle.

Throughout his youth, Ray's ambition was to be an aviator. He attended Western Kentucky College until he turned 21, at which time he joined the Army Air Corps cadet program, graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant and pilot in 1939.

Ray's first assignment was March Field in Riverside, CA. There, in early 1941, he met an Army nurse named Mildred Wright. It was love at first sight and he proposed on the spot in front of their respective dates. They were married six weeks later and remained a devoted couple for 61 years.

In October, 1941, Ray's unit, the 19th Bomb Group, was assigned to Clark Field in the Philippines. During an air battle on December 14, 1941, Ray's B-17 took approximately 1,200 bullets and crash landed on the island of Mindanao. By early 1942, members of the 19th were in Java as the Japanese invaded the island. Ray and crew members were left to destroy munitions and records while the rest of the 19th left the island. Stranded in Java, Ray joined the Dutch underground till his capture in September, 1942. He remained a POW until the War's end, working on the Siam-Burma railroad, made infamous by the 1958 movie, "Bridge on the River Kwai".

Ray remained in the Air Force until retirement in 1961. In the meantime, he and Mildred raised four children as he pursued a new career as an account manager for an international food service company, eventually settling in San Rafael, CA. In 1999, he and Mildred moved to Sitka, Alaska, to live with their son, David. Mildred passed from stroke complications on June 3, 2002.

Ray will be remembered for his fine humor, hard work ethic, friendliness to all, honesty, fair play, open mindedness, generosity, compassion and willingness to help a family member or friend in need. He was never prejudicial even after his POW experience of torture and inhumane treatment. He instilled all those values in his children. Above all, he was a real gentleman who will be remembered as a wonderful father and devoted husband who was deeply loved and admired by family and friends.

He is survived by his children: Carolyn Raz (wife of Buz Raz) of Portland, OR, Claudia Rich (wife of George Rich) of Sacramento, CA, Bruce (husband of Rebecca Teborek) of Portland OR, and David (husband of Susan Teborek) of Sitka, AK, 7 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and his sister in-law, Eleanor Joy.