Ray Emile Romero

New Iberia A memorial gathering will be at 2:00 PM Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at Azalea Estates, 1318 Andre Street, in New Iberia, for Ray Emile Romero who died on Sunday, November 13, 2016 in New Iberia. A native of Iberia parish, Mr. Romero was born on March 2,1923 near Jefferson Island, and was a longtime resident of New Iberia. Ray served with the 8th Air Force stationed in England in World War II. He was a B-17 Flight Engineer who flew multiple missions over Germany, and was member of the Disabled Veterans of America. In 1950, he formed The Ray Tire Co. which he operated on East Main St. for 30 years. In retirement, he was an avid cultivator of day lilies and wrote a weekly column on gardening for the Daily Iberian. He was a big supporter of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Always embracing the contemporary, Ray used email and social media daily to communicate with his family until his passing. He was predeceased by his first wife, Inez Hungerford Romero; second wife Martha Waters Romero; his father, Samuel Romero Sr.; his mother, Eugenie Louviere Romero; three sisters: Margaret Dugas, Nora Lovas, and Martha Savoie; a brother, Samuel J. Romero Jr.; a stepdaughter, Ginny (Virginia) Johnston; and two nieces. He is survived by a daughter, Carolyn Rink; adopted son, Keith Waldman; two grandchildren, John Maringouin and Ashley Landrum; two great grandchildren; stepson, Douglas Waters; and 12 nieces and nephews.