Raymond Flores

Raymond Robert Flores, 89, of Sunnyvale, CA, passed away at home on August 8,

2025 after a long and courageous battle with ALS.

Ray was born on August 28, 1935, in Iowa City, Iowa, the youngest of eight children.

His parents, August and Maria, who emigrated from Silao, Mexico in 1916, raised their

family in the small town of Clarion. Ray attended Clarion Public Schools, graduating

from Clarion High School, Class of ‘53. He graduated from the University of Iowa in

1957 with a B.A. in Liberal Arts. He was a lifelong Hawkeye fan and proudly wore their

colors on his many hats and jerseys.

Ray knew he wanted to head west after he and his mother made a trip to visit his sister

Mary who was living in California. He moved to the Bay Area in 1957, living with his

sister Jo and her family before moving out on his own. A neighbor in his apartment

building introduced Ray to his future wife, Joan, because she was also from Iowa and Catholic.

After their wedding in 1960, Ray and Joan settled in Burlingame and started their family.

They moved to their current home in Sunnyvale in 1970. Ray worked hard and provided

a good life for his family. His accounting career began at Ampex Corporation in

Redwood City and the last 20 years of his work-life were spent at Spartan Shops, Inc at

San Jose State University. He earned his MBA there while working full time, retiring

from his position as Director of Administration and Finance in 1997.

Ray loved cooking, gardening, traveling, and reading. He was a fan of Bay Area sports

teams the 49ers, Giants, and Warriors. He enjoyed many years of volunteering with the

St. Vincent de Paul Society and El Camino Hospital Auxiliary. Of all his

accomplishments, Ray was most proud of his role as a devoted husband, father,

grandfather and great grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joan; their

four children, Chris (Jennifer), Ted (Janet), Julie (Chris) and Francine (Richard); 7

grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; sister Bobbe Dannenbrink; his Beckman

sisters- and brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents,

he is preceded in death by sisters Agnes, Mary, Jo, and Jean and brothers Frank and Gus.

A funeral mass will be held on August 25 at 11:00 AM at Church of the Resurrection in

Sunnyvale. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos. A reception

will be held at the Flores family home in Sunnyvale immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital (www.stjude.org), St.

Vincent de Paul Society of Santa Clara County (www.svdp.org), the ALS Association (www.als.org) or a charity of your choice.