Raymond W. Gwinn, 80

Published 8:32 am Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Raymond W. Gwinn, 80

Raymond W. Gwinn, 80, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at his home.

Raymond was born in Austin, Minnesota to Amos and Winnifred (Smith) Gwinn. He graduated from Austin High School in 1957. He married Edith (Kay) Harriman and had two sons, Kelly and Kevin. Ray and Kay were later divorced. He moved to Napa, California, and became a lifelong resident.

Upon arriving in Napa, Ray got a job with Kaiser Steel as a welder, where he worked for his entire career and ultimately retired. Ray later met Dorothy Hooks, who became the love of his life for the next 30 years. They loved to go to the San Francisco Giants game together with friends. He was an active member of the Masons and enjoyed running marathons. After retiring, he especially enjoyed taking care of the park near his home and getting to know his neighbors.

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Ray was preceded in death by his father, Amos; his mother, Winnifred; one son in infancy, James W. Gwinn; his sister, Sandra Enzenauer; his brother-in-law, Phillip Nordstrom; and his niece, Kimberly Malm. Ray is survived by his sons, Kelly Craig and Kevin Craig, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; his sister, Mercedes Nordstrom, of Austin; his brother, Michael (Wanda) Gwinn of Longmont, Colorado; his brother-in-law, Lester Enzenauer of Owatonna, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

Ray will be laid to rest next to the love of his life, Dorothy Hooks, in Austin.