Edward Ray Wooten, born September11, 1922, was the eldest of five children of Henry Talmadge and Georgia Kilpatrick Wooten of Clinton, NC. E. Ray began service to his country as a Corporal stationed in Hethel, Norfolk UK-assigned as a B-24 tail gunner to the 8th Air Force, 389th Bomber Group, and 565th Squadron. From Hethel, he flew approximately 22 required missions before the war ended in May 1945. Ray returned to stateside and was discharged as a Staff Sergeant. He continued his military career in the National Guard and the Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1982
Upon his return home to Clinton, NC, Ray entered East Carolina University and was graduated with a Master’s of Education Degree in 1949. It was during this time he met and later married his wife on 52 years, Marjorie Williams Wooten. After serving as principal of Hickory Grove ElementarySchool in Bladen County, Ray moved to Kinston to take the principalship of Harvey School. Later he became the first principal of Northwest Elementary School and the first headmaster of Arendell Parrott Academy.
Ray and Marjorie had two sons, Edward Ray Wooten, Jr. and David Talmadge Wooten. E. Ray Wooten passed away on June 12, 2003 at the age of 80 years old.
