Raymond John Cheponis

Raymond John “Ray” Cheponis of Loganville, Georgia passed away on May 9. 2023 at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on January 26, 1953 to Robert and Ethel Cheponis, Ray was preceded in death by his father, Robert Cheponis and his two younger sisters, Linda Street and Joanne Cheponis. He is survived by his mother Ethel Cheponis, his wife of almost 49 years Karen (Gowens) Cheponis, his sons Ryan and Brandon, his daughters-in-law Elisabeth and Danyell Cheponis and four grandchildren Jackson, Charlotte, Caroline, and Elijah.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Walnut Grove Community Center on June 17th, 2023 from 12-4 p.m. The Community Center is located at 1021 Park St. Loganville, Ga 30052. The gathering will be just that. Those attending are encouraged to bring a covered dish and their own drinks.

Ray graduated from Cross Keys High School, Atlanta Christian College, and received his Master’s Degree in Education from Georgia State University. Always a champion of young people, Ray served as a youth minister in churches in Snellville, Georgia and Jackson, Tennessee. He later went to work for the Boys Cub of Atlanta (Grant Park) where he had the distinct honor of driving a young Evander Holyfield to his Boys Club boxing matches.

Ray worked for the Cintas Company as a driver for 38 years and was recognized on more than one occasion for his reliability and service. A bighearted extravert Ray didn’t know a stranger. He was much loved by his fellow employees and came to be known by some as “The Legend.”

“Ray easily became my favorite…Heck! Everyone’s favorite. His wisdom, work ethic, and loyalty was contagious,” Said T.J. Simmons, his former manager.

Ray was utterly devoted to his family. As a young father, he was forever doing something with his boys, Ryan and Brandon. Whether taking trips to the North Carolina mountains or firing rockets in some field, he was a deeply involved dad. And when it came to his grandchildren, Poppi was equally if not more involved with them. Since his retirement, he would often travel from Loganville to Little River Elementary School in Woodstock to read to each of his granddaughter’s grade school classes . And, most recently he had taken to reading and performing magic tricks for his grandson Elijah’s kindergarten class at Sharon Elementary School in Loganville.

Ray deeply loved music, especially Blues, Southern Rock and the music of the late 60’s and early 70’s of San Francisco. He had a vast collection of albums, CDs, cassette tapes, and, believe it or not, 8 Track tapes. It was nothing for him to seek out anyone with 8 Track tapes and buy them by the box full. He loved the era they represented as much if not more than the actual 8 tracks.

After he and his bride, Karen, moved to the Loganville area, his son Brandon and one of his friends, built Ray his own ‘he shed’(‘Ray’s Boom Boom Room’ a.k.a. ‘Ray’s House of Blues,’) where he could retreat and listen to music. The shed was well built and the walls were lined with posters of his favorite musicians as well as concert promotional posters.

Ray was a devoted fan of Duane Allman and loved the Allman Brothers Band, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Lynard Skynard. It was nothing for Ray to shed tears of joy if he heard one of those bands were going to be playing in Atlanta.

Ray was a ‘good guy’ in the best sense of that phrase. His heart was massive, his sense of humor fully functional, and his sometimes irascible nature more humorous than threatening. He loved his family, his bride Karen, his parents, sisters, children, and grandchildren. He loved his friends, especially his co-workers at Cintas.

Somehow the sun shines a little less bright and the joys of early summer are a bit tempered by his death. But he would not want anyone to think that way. Rather, he would want everyone to remember him and the joy he found in living. And he would encourage us all to love our families and friends as he did his.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that his friends remember Ray with a donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, 1275 Peachtree Street N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3506.