Ray Dean Diebel
Born December 17, 1927 in Flint, MichiganDeparted July 3, 2024 in Palm Bay, Florida
Ray Dean Diebel, 96, of Melbourne, Florida, passed away on July 3, 2024 at Your Life of West Melbourne.
Ray Dean Diebel was born on December 17, 1927 in Flint, Michigan to John and Eva Diebel (Flanagin). He grew up in Flint, Michigan, and graduated from Flint Central High School in 1946. He joined the United States Army in October 1950, reaching the rank of Corporal and was honorably discharged in 1956.
On December 22, 1951, he married Marion Schroeder. They lived in Sheboygan, Michigan, then Grand Blanc, Michigan before settling in Melbourne, Florida in 1957. They were married for 55 years before her death in 2007.
In Melbourne, Ray worked as an electronic technician at Soroban, OBM and retired from Golden Enterprises in 1992.
Ray was an avid camper, traveling across the country with Marion in their coachman RV. He enjoyed growing orchids and did the landscaping for Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and Risen Savior Lutheran church. He was most recently a member of Hope Lutheran Church. He was a prominent member of Canaveral Mineral and Gem Society (CMGS). He created and built a Fluorescent Minerals Display showing minerals in regular, long wave and shortwave ultraviolet lights, which he set up at the CMGS shows.
Ray is survived by his children Ernie (Lois) and John (June) Diebel; grandchildren Hannah McCreary (Martin), Joanna Ross (David), Janae Norton (Sean), Austin Diebel, and Jacob Diebel (Grace), 3 great grandchildren and many other loving family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Marion; and brothers Lyle and Robert.
Family and friends may call for visitation on July 11, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Brownlie Maxwell Funeral Home, 1010 E. Palmetto Avenue in Melbourne. His funeral service will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024 at 11:00 am at Hope Lutheran Church, 4541 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, Florida. Burial will follow at Florida Memorial Gardens at 1:00 pm.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Lutheran Church or Trinity Lutheran School in Rockledge, Florida:
Hope Lutheran Church
Trinity Lutheran School