Obituary

Olivia lakin ray singleton, 88, of charleston, west virginia, died after a short illness. She was born in charleston to marion lakin ray and john vickers ray. She was a graduate of charleston high school and wells college in aurora, new york with a b.A. In sociology. She worked for nan grosscup as a travel agent. She married robert j. Singleton in charleston, west virginia in1953 where they lived and raised their family.Olivia lived life to the extreme. As a young counselor at camp anne bailey in greenbrier county, she excelled at snake control. Like her parents, she was a competitive athlete and enjoyed golf, tennis, and swimming, spending many hours honing these sports at berry hills country club. She loved to travel, especially with bob and their friends. Together they visited many countries to attend the olympic games and world equestrian events. She loved to snow ski and spent many wonderful years on slopes all over the world. She made her last downhill run at snowshoe at age 80 with her grandsons robert and henry singleton. An avid bridge player, she regularly hosted games at her house, playing both with her friends and bob, even after becoming ill. She and bob also shared a love of gardening. Through her membership in the kanawha garden club she developed a love of flower arranging, participating in and later judging flower shows in west virginia and beyond.

Olivia believed strongly in civic responsibility. She was a brownie troop leader, a girl scout troop leader and two time president of the girl scout black diamond council.   with her family in tow, she visited and camped at many girl scout camping facilities in west virginia. She was an active and hardworking member of the junior league of charleston, west virginia, serving in every officer position. While president of the junior league, she and her good friend berry hutchinson spear headed the building of the vandalia housing project. At one point they were told to go plant flowers, but they persevered. Olivia was a member of the charleston urban renewal authority. She served for many years as a member and a term as chair of the authority. Her friend brawley tracey coined the term chaircreature in her honor. During her tenure, she helped shape the town center and the businesses and hotels around it.

Olivia was preceded in death by her parents, marion lakin rex and john vickers ray, and her son, robert ray singleton. She is survived by her husband, robert j. Singleton, her daughter marion leigh singleton jones and her husband george w. Jones, iii, her son john albert singleton, his wife margaret mcvey singleton, their children robert ray singleton, ii and henry hanna singleton, her brother john l. Ray and his wife jane hain ray, and numerous nieces, great nieces and great nephews.

The family extends special thanks to olivia’s caregivers, visiting angels- kim hoskinson, sharon bond and mary buckner, hospice care wv’s wonderful nursing staff, and especially octavia jones, dorothy newell and carolyn young. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the r. Ray singleton scholarship fund care of the greater kanawha valley foundation (1600 huntington square, 900 lee east street, charleston, wv 25301), library foundation of kanawha county, inc. (123 capitol street, charleston, wv 25301), girl scouts of black diamond council (321 virginia street west, charleston, wv 25302), or christ church united methodist (1221 quarrier street, charleston, wv 25301). Funeral service will be on saturday, january 21, 2017 at 11: a.M. At christ church united methodist. Visitation will follow the service at ccum.. Interment will be private.

You may send condolences to the family at www.Barlowbonsall.Com

barlow bonsall funeral home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.