Virgil Raymond Bodensteiner, of Lowry Crossing, Texas, passed away on November 23, 2019 at the age of 80. Ray was born on September 25, 1939 to Greg and Agnes Balk Bodensteiner in Castalia, Iowa.  He attended schools in Ossian, Iowa and graduated from DeSales Catholic High School. Ray enlisted in the United States Navy on September 10, 1958 serving in the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts.  He earned the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Awards), Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary (Korea), and Good Conduct Award (1^st and 2^nd).  Ray was Honorably Discharged as a Chief Petty Officer in 1969 following 12 years of active duty service.  Ray married Connie Cowan on August 8, 1959 in Covington, Tennessee.  He attended Eastfield College, in Mesquite, Texas and later University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas.  He worked at Texas Instruments for a number of years and later started his own business, Second Source, where he worked the remainder of his life.  Ray was an avid gardener, loved all Fords, especially Mercury Cougars and was a member of the Lone Star Cougar Club.  He was also a member of the Ford Muscle Race Team where he earned the Dan Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.  

He is survived by his wife, Connie Bodensteiner; children, Doug Bodensteiner and wife, Teal, Virgil Bodensteiner Jr., Lea Bodensteiner, and Mike Bodensteiner and wife, Teresa; grandchildren, Summer Hernandez, Fox Hernandez, Lindy McMahan and husband Billy, and Chris Stanford and wife Samantha; great grandchildren, Aiden and Riley McMahan; brothers and sisters, Clarinda Thuente, Arlene Stendel, Dale Bodensteiner, Robert Bodensteiner, Lyle Bodensteiner, and Keith Bodensteiner, and numerous other loving family and friends.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Greg and Agnes Bodensteiner; a son, Greg Bodensteiner, a granddaughter, Jessica Bodensteiner, and brothers, Cornell Bodensteiner, Gerald Bodensteiner, and Leo Bodensteiner. 

A memorial service with military honors will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas  75013.  Inurnment will be held at a later date at DFW National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.

Ray was always a proud participant in the AER Annual Toy Drive.  In lieu of flowers, please bring new, unwrapped toys to the memorial service to be donated in his name.  Donations can also be made in memory of Ray to Toys for Tots: www.toyfortots.org/donate/forms/tribute.