04/12/2016

Obituary for Ray J. Greenisen

Owner of Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services; Father of Robert and Ernest Greenisen

Ray J. Greenisen, 89, of Salem, peacefully died in his sleep at his home on Friday, April 8, 2016 at 3 AM.

A highly respected gentleman in both business and home life. A loving and hard working husband, father and grandfather and a long time care giver to many family's for 63 years, he will be missed.

He was born on November 20, 1926 in Salem, the son of the late John Robinson and Julia Ann (Green) Greenisen.

Ray has lived in the Salem area almost his whole life, except for a short time in Bryan and Toledo, Ohio. A 1944 graduate of Salem High School and a 1950 Graduate of the Cleveland College of Mortuary Science. In 1945, he was drafted into the US Army and served in Japan from March 5, 1945 to November 16, 1946. He returned to Salem them moved to Bryan, Ohio to serve his internship for Mortuary school at his brothers funeral home. After graduation, he went to work at the Worth Clegg Funeral Home in Toledo, until taking a position in 1952 at the Arbaugh-Pearce Funeral home in Salem. He purchased the firm from W.R. Pearce in 1977 and it was then known as Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen Funeral Home. Ray served the Salem area for 63 years as a Funeral Director/Embalmer and has been licensed for 65 years. Ray was still active in the community and the day to day operations of the funeral home until he took ill six months ago.

He was a past Commander and longtime finance officer of the Salem American Legion Post # 56. He was a member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Aux. under the American Legion, a member of the Salem Amvets Post # 45, served numerous times on the Veterans Service Committee for Salem City Ward 3, He had served on the Salona Supply Company board of directors, the Salem Salvation Army Advisory Board for 25 years, Hope Cemetery Board.

A Past Noble Grand with the International Order of Odd Fellows in Salem, and a member of the Damascus Lodge now, a past Counselor, Past Grand Counselor of United Commercial Travelers of Ohio, a member of Salem UCT Council # 590, He and his wife were named Fraternalists of the year in UCT in 2011, a past President, and oldest member of the Salem Kiwanis Club, a member of the Damascus Ruritans, Salem Saxon Club Branch # 19, Salem Elk's, A member of the Perry Masonic Lodge # 185 F & AM for over 60 years and a 32 degree York Rite Mason, a member of the Salem First United Methodist Church and previously served on the Board.

He was a past President and member of the Tri County Funeral Directors Association, member of National Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association and helped to develop in 1984 the first pre-need trust funding program in Ohio, and a former member of the Columbiana County Funeral Directors Association.

He was an avid bowler and sponsored a team for many years at Hunt Club Lanes, and bowled at area UCT tournaments. In his spare time he would share stories of his childhood years, time in the military and early years in the funeral industry, reading the papers, enjoyed watching all kinds of sports. In his younger years he enjoyed working on cars, planting big vegetable gardens, painting, wallpapering and remodeling projects.

He is survived by his wife of almost 64 years, Bernice Ruth (Cunningham) Greenisen whom he married on April 19, 1952, his sons Ernest John Greenisen of Salem, Robert Merrill Greenisen and his wife Barbara Ann who was like a daughter, of Salem, and a grandson Daniel William Greenisen of Salem.

In addition to his parents, He is preceded in death by his middle two sons, William Ray Greenisen in 1991 and James Mark Greenisen in 2015, his older brothers John (Vi) Greenisen and Ralph (Ruth) Greenisen.

A service will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2 PM at the Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services. The Rev P. Douglas George and Major Thomas Hinzman of the Salvation Army in Lexington, Ky. will be officiating. The Salem Honor Guard will provide full military honors at the conclusion of the services at the funeral home. The family will be having a private time to lay him to rest in Grandview Cemetery, Salem.

A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday from 2 to 4 Pm and from 7 to 9 Pm and from 1 PM to 2 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

The Perry Masonic Lodge # 185 will hold a Masonic Service at 9 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.

Please go and sign the guest book at www.apgreenisenfh.com