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In Memoriam: Ray D. Supak, Retired Textile Care Manager

WACO, Texas — Ray D. Supak, 61, retired textile care manager for the Waco VA Medical Center, died May 17 at a local hospital, according to the Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel.
Supak was a Registered Laundry and Linen Director (RLLD), a former facilitator at the American Laundry & Linen College (ALLC), and a member of the Association for Linen Management (ALM), the association reports. He served 37 years at the Waco VA Medical Center before his retirement, according to a published obituary.
“I worked with Ray for many years [and] in my opinion there was no better laundry manager in the VA,” says Encompass’ Ken Tyler, who managed the federal department’s entire textile and laundry operations for 23 years before retiring in 2000. “Ray always had innovative ideas and suggestions. His dedication to the American Laundry & Linen College as an adviser and teacher reflected in a positive fashion not only on him but on his students and the VA overall.”
Bart Carpenter, ALM president, was mentored by Supak while attending the ALLC and remembers him for his smile, sense of humor and even-tempered approach to everything. “He was always approachable, and ready to give counsel,” says Carpenter, a laundry production supervisor at an Oregon prison. “He will be missed by everyone who ever knew him, and that is a lot of people.”
“Ray was the facilitator coordinator for the first ALLC that I was associated with in 2002,” says Linda Fairbanks, ALM’s director of academic affairs. “He was a great mentor ... and he had a way of challenging you to think beyond the current moment. Ray truly cared for the ALLC program and gave a great deal of himself to the participants.”
Supak was born Aug. 11, 1947, in Bryan, Texas, to William and Rosie Charanza Supak. He graduated from Connally High School in 1965 and served in the U.S. Air Force. Surviving him are his wife of 38 years, Rose Marie; a daughter, Tiffany; a brother; and a sister.
Memorial donations may be made in Supak’s honor to the Hillcrest Hospice of Waco or to the China Spring Volunteer Fire Department, in care of Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel, 8220 Woodway Dr., Waco, TX 76712.
 

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