Ray Hacker

Ray Hacker, of Beavercreek, Ohio, passed away on October 12th 2025. He was born on February 21, 1921, in Hector, Kentucky.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 75 years Gertrude Hacker; parents Levi and Martha Hacker; siblings John Hacker, Maynard Hacker, Sheridan Hacker, Edna White, Lizzie Bush and Bernice Sizemore.

He is survived by his niece Wilivene (Paul) Lorenzo and nephews Leroy Hacker and Ray Sizemore, as well as sister in law, Cledith (Don) Bent. He also leaves behind nieces and nephews, Ramona (Tom) Richason, Tim (Kim) Lorenzo, Amy Lorenzo, Theresa (Bob Keeton) Bent, Ken (Nina) Bent, Regina (Jon Todd) Amburgey, Diana (Gary) Witt, Janice (Johnny) Wyatt, Michael Hibbard, Connie (Bill) Weinsteiger, Mark (Heather) Hibbard, and multiple nieces and nephews of several generations.

The DC-3 society interviewed Ray before his 103rd birthday and this was what they wrote about his service to our country during WWII...

"Ray is a combat veteran of the US 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, and saw more than 10 months of fighting in Europe between July 1944 and May 1945. Born in Kentucky in 1921, Ray Hacker enlisted in the US Army in May 1943. Nearly a year later, he was coming ashore on Utah Beach in July of 1944, where he and the 28th helped relieve elements of the 82nd Airborne: a unit they would come to know well throughout the war.

Ray and his unit went on to fight though 10 months of hard combat, from Normandy, to Northern France, into the Hurtgen Forest and Rhineland campaigns, before entering Germany itself. The 28th alongside the 82nd liberated a still-functioning concentration camp known as Wöbbelin in May 1945.

He says he walked over 1,800 miles during WWII and was never wounded, although bullets definitely passed through his clothing on numerous accounts."

He loved God, his family and friends. He enjoyed gardening and family gatherings. He had a generous nature and anyone who came to visit he would always give vegetables from his garden to them. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by those he left behind.

Visitation will be held from 10:00am to 11:00am, on , October 21, 2025, at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3380 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, where Funeral Services will begin at 11:00am with Pastor Kyle Gulley officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Ohio's Hospice of Dayton.

To view a live stream of Ray's service please click here.