Charles L. Ray Jr., longtime board chair of the $3.4 billionRedstone Federal Credit Union in Huntsville, Ala., died on Tuesday,the credit union said.

Ray joined the credit union as a volunteer committee member in1977 and served as its board chairman from 1983 until 2011.

“Mr. Ray will be especially remembered for his unwaveringcommitment to serving the underserved. He led the great expansionof Redstone's facilities as well as the development of many of theoutstanding products and services that Redstone is now known for,”the 355,600-member credit union said in announcing his passing.

Over the years, Ray owned and operated a funeral home, taught inthe Madison County Public Schools and held senior positions at theHuntsville-Madison County Community Action Agency and the U.S. ArmyAviation and Missile Command, Redstone said.

Ray held bachelor's and master's degrees from Alabama A&MUniversity, the credit union said, was an Army veteran, active in anumber of other community service organizations and in 2010 wasnamed to the Defense Credit Union Council's Hall of Honor.

He also was a longtime campaigner for equal rights for all, thecredit union said.

“During his career, he was responsible for bringing many civilrights icons to Huntsville for various diversity programs andcelebrations. Between the 1950s and 1980s, he was part of aworldwide political movement for equality, long before it becamelaw,” Redstone FCU said in its announcement of Ray's passing.

“At many times, he was involved in many campaigns of civilresistance, education and training aimed at achieving change bynonviolent forms of resistance. The process was long and tenuous;however many of his efforts did lead to improvements in the legalrights of previously oppressed groups of people locally, regionallyand nationally,” the credit union said.

Dr. Dorothy W. Huston, the current board chair, said, “He was aman of great integrity, with a kind heart and a genuine desire tohelp others. His enduring vision of the excellence that Redstonecould and would achieve, and his tireless commitment to the creditunion's mission of service, will continue to serve as an examplefor all current and future Redstone board members.”

Ray is survived by his wife, Willie Mae Ray, and daughter, TerriL. Ray. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donationsbe made to the Union Chapel Christian Academy Foundation, P.O. Box122, Huntsville, AL 35804, marked for the Charles L.Ray Jr. Endowment Fund.