Charles (Ray) Hinderliter

July 16, 1937 – September 2, 2024

Charles Ray Hinderliter passed away September 2, 2024 at his home with his son and daughter by his side. He was 87 years old.

Ray was born on July 16, 1937 in Hawthorne, Pa., to Ruel and Genevieve Hinderliter. After he graduated high school, he attended Penn State and graduated as a chemical engineer. He met his wife Roberta and was married on September 19, 1961. They had their first child, Thomas, in November 1962; their daughter, Cathryn, was born May 1964; and finally, Charles, in August 1968. 

With his career, he and his family moved several times before settling in Littleton, Colo. He was working for Gulf Oils and retired from them and moved over to Texaco Inc. 

He enjoyed summer vacations with his family and, most years, would take them on a two week road trip to tour the U.S. They went to the Grand Canyon, Painted Dessert, Petrified Forest, Yellowstone National Park and Florida. Yes, he even saw the world’s largest ball of twine!

Ray and his wife enjoyed playing bridge and were involved with several bridge groups. He also was the head grill chef for the neighborhood Forth of July picnics hosted at home with his wife every year.

He was a softball coach for his son Tom’s team for a year and coached his son Charles’s Jefferson County soccer team for eight years. His assistant coach, Paul Moline, became his best friend.

Ray started getting grandchildren in mid-1984 and they became his world. He loved his four of his grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He and Roberta also became foster parents to Diana, who came into their lives at about the same time. She married and had two children as well.

In 1987, Ray and Roberta bought a Motel and Café in Roggen, Colo., where they enjoyed the townspeople and held holiday events. He continued working at Texaco while his family ran the business. In 1994, he sold the business and in 1995, he retired from Texaco.

In 1997, he and Roberta decided to buy another motel and, after looking at several, found the K-Bar Motel in Greybull, Wyo. His wife, their son, Tom, their daughter, Cathryn, Tom’s daughter, and Cathryn’s three children all came up to help with the family business and fell in love with the area. In 2000, Ray bought Tom’s Café with Tom. In 2005, he bought his wife a house in Basin. His daughter retired him from the K-bar in 2006 and his son Charles moved to Wyoming in 2007 and ran the motel until he sold it in 2008.

After Ray moved to Basin, he bought an adult 3-wheeler bicycle, which he would ride to the Post Office every day.

Ray was preceded in life his parents; his brother, Hilton (2002); his son, Thomas (2015); and his wife, Roberta (2022).

Ray is survived by his daughter, Cathryn (Dan) Thomas; his son, Charles Hinderliter; and his foster daughter, Diana (Armand) Grigsby. Ray has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He will be missed. We love you Dad.