Ray Dahlgren

Ray Dahlgren was born on December 19, 1928 and passed from this world on November 30, just shy of his 88th birthday.

He was born in San Francisco and grew up in Palo Alto and San Jose, CA. His mother Marie contracted tuberculosis, and Ray spent most of his youth in foster care with "Mommy Mat." While in high school, he rode his bike to San Jose Country Club to caddy for tips to build his first hot rod, a 1937 Chevy 2-door. After graduating from high school, he drove that car to Mesa, AZ, to live and work with his Dad, Lars, a jeweler and watchmaker. It was in Mesa that he met the love of his life, Ann Rodney. They married in 1948, when they were both 19. They celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary this past June.

Ann and Ray had five children: Rodney (Cindy), Raymond (Deborah), Robert (Patricia) and Richard Dahlgren, and one daughter, Annarae (Jim) Smetzer, all of whom survive him, along with twelve grandchildren: Seth, Brian, John and Aaron Dahlgren, Amber (Weibe), Leah (White), Sarah (McKay), Amy (Coombs), Rachel (Wick), Baron, Briton, and Summer (Smetzer) and eleven great-grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Ray displayed a sunny and upbeat attitude, curious about and warm to every person he met, and bound to lend a helping hand to those down on their luck, which he did many times during his life. His zest for living led him to be involved in auto racing, race car building, sailing, piloting his own plane, waterskiing, creative building and handyman projects, and world travel. In fact, when he became sick, he was working on building his second street rod following the one he had completed three years before. Ray was really a perpetual 12 year old, no matter what his physical age, and his love of life and exuberant outlook will be remembered by all, and sorely missed by those who love him.

Ray and Ann lived in Napa for 55 years, and he had his own businesses for most of that time, including a trailer & RV center, AAMCO franchise, real estate, and for the past 22 years, the Loose Caboose Hobby Shop in Napa, where he came in to work every day until just a short time ago.

Ray was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where he taught Sunday School and Ann played the organ.

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Graveside services for the family and close friends will be held at Tulocay Cemetery on Saturday, December 3, at 1:00pm.

A memorial service to which all of Ray's friends, family, and business associates are invited will be held on Saturday, December 17, at 2:00pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Chapel Hill Drive in Alta Heights, with a reception following.

 Service Information