Erwin Ray Boutwell died peacefully after a short illness March 20, 2026. He was 88 years old. Ray was born April 8, 1937 in Colorado City, Texas to Lucy and Edward Boutwell. At 9 years old his family moved to Meridian, Mississippi where he graduated from Meridian High School. After his graduation he enlisted in the Air Force.

He moved to Southern California and worked as a car salesman and other jobs while he was trained by the Navy Reserve to be a Loadmaster/Flight Engineer. He found his way to Corpus

Christi where he was employed by the Corpus Christi Army Depot. Ray rose through the ranks and was an essential member of the flight crew. He flew aboard the P-3 Orion aircraft, known as the “Sub Hunter” and was stationed at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and Naval Air Station New Orleans Joint Reserve Base. He rose to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer.

He was offered the highest enlisted rank, Master Chief Petty Officer, but declined the promotion. The Navy doesn’t normally allow high ranking personnel, such as Master Chiefs, to fly on missions and Senior Chief Ray didn’t want a desk job. Ray retired from the Navy with multiple decorations and an Honorable Discharge.

While in Corpus he met Joyce (Bayer) Perkins. They were married in March 1982. Ray gave his life to the Lord as a youth in the Baptist Church in Meridian, Mississippi and re-dedicated his life to God shortly after marrying Joyce. 

He was proceeded in death by his wife Joyce, his sister Rojean (Boutwell) Tedder and brother Leonard Boutwell. Ray is survived by his daughter Mitzi (Boutwell) Majeski and son Kelly Boutwell, both from California, and step children Tom Perkins and Nancy (Perkins) Johnson both of Corpus Christi, Texas. “Pa-Pa Ray” has seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Ray was very active in church and served over 25 years in prison ministries including Kairos, Bill Glass Ministries, Prison Fellowship and locally with the Juvenile Justice Center in Corpus Christi. Ray was also a part of many Bible studies including Community Bible Study.

Erwin Ray Boutwell will be interred at the Coastal Bend Veterans Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00pm at Southside Community Church, 3346 Airline Road, Corpus Christi, Texas on Saturday May 2, 2026. Please join family and friends to celebrate Senior Chief “Pa-Pa Ray’s” life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kairos Prison Ministry International (Mcconnell-kairos.org or K.O.T.-McConnell P.O.Box 271788, Corpus Christi, TX 78427)