Sammy Ray Stanley

SHREWSBURY - Sammy Ray Stanley, 65, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at York Hospital. He was the husband of Rita M. (Kennedy) Stanley to whom he was married for 43 years. A celebration of life tribute service will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, May 3, 2010 at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York with pastor, Dr. Louis A. Paradiso officiating. A viewing will be held from 1-2:00 PM Monday at the Funeral Chapel. Full military rites will be provided by York County Veterans Honor Guard prior to the funeral service. Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, June 8, 2010 in Arlington National Cemetery with military rites provided by the U. S. Army. Born June 19, 1944 in Clintwood, VA, a son of the late Edgar and Rhoda (Bryant) Stanley, he proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1990. Sammy Ray enlisted in the Army as an infantryman, later served as an Army Airborne Ranger, and was assigned to the ROTC program at York College prior to his retirement as a First Sergeant. He earned a Purple Heart during his combat service in the Vietnam War. Mr. Stanley later worked for the PA Department of Corrections from 1990 until his retirement in 2000. He attended Temple Baptist Church and was an avid golfer, fisherman, and hunter. His family was the light of his life and he lived for them, making it known to each of them every day. In addition to his wife, Mr. Stanley is survived by a daughter, Tania Stanley O'Neil and husband Brian of Great Falls, VA; two grandsons, Evan Peter and Bryce Adam O'Neil; a brother, Mack Stanley of Clintwood, VA; and a number of nieces, nephews, and loving cousins. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Vernon and James Stanley; a sister, Wilma Grigsby; and two nephews, Eddie Grigsby and Robbie Stanley.