Ray Carroll Finstad

Ray ""Pappy"" Finstad, 76, of Amarillo, passed away on Friday, March 2, 2007 in Amarillo. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, March 5, 2007 at Rector Funeral Home, Osage Chapel with Bob Thomas, Chaplain with Odyssey Hospice officiating; and flag presentation by the DPS Honor Guard. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, Osage Chapel, 2800 South Osage St. Mr. Finstad served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict and was a DPS Trooper for 30 years. He was a firearms instructor and a warrants officer, and was an instructor for the DPS Academy in Austin. He began his career in 1963 patrolling in Panhandle, Dumas, and then Amarillo. He was appointed as a Special Texas Ranger. He retired from the Department of Public Safety in 1993. He was an avid bowler and enjoyed building dollhouses. He was a beloved father of four, grandfather of 13, and great-grandfather of 6 and a half. Survivors include his wife, Barbara, of the home; two daughters; Donna Ireland and her husband Dale of Dumas; and Jackie Bledsoe and her husband Steven of Amarillo; two sons; Ray Finstad, Jr and his wife Laura of Anna Illinois; and Doyle Finstad and his wife Ambra of Altus Oklahoma; and a sister Beatrice Finstad of Ft. Worth; 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.