Obituary: Ehrle, Ray

Ray Ehrle

Ehrle, Ray

Dr. Raymond A. Ehrle, a 22-year resident of Annapolis, previously of Beltsville, died at his home on October 26, 2023, and was buried in his rural New York home cemetery on November 2.

            Ray fondly remembered his ten-year Beltsville life.  Living with wife Sally on Montgomery Road Ray regularly walked through the nearby park and took the short walk on Sunday to Emmanuel United Methodist Church.  He knew and enjoyed his neighbors; he regularly attended a book club at the Beltsville library along with avid readers and some retired University of Maryland faculty.  Ray was a food taster at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and participated in Baker Bill’s baking class, later creating his own cookbook.  The Montgomery Road home was used annually to host German American summer picnics and German American December holiday events.

            He grew up in rural New York where he attended a one room school for seven years. He graduated from High School at age 16, worked on his father’s farm and then entered the Army. He subsequently attended Syracuse University on the GI Bill receiving an AB in sociology. He received a ROTC Commission and upon graduation entered the USAF. Active duty and reserve time enabled him to retire as a Major. Overseas assignments included Newfoundland, Iceland and Eniwetok.

            Dr. Ehrle received a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from George Washington University and a doctorate in Rehabilitation Counseling in 1961 from the University of Missouri. He gained practical experience as supervisor with the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Center and then the U.S. Department of Labor. Dr. Ehrle then went to the University of Maryland to start a new Rehabilitation Counseling Graduate Education program for both Masters degree and doctoral students.

            He remained active in professional organizations serving as president of the American Rehabilitation Counselors Association and the National Employment Counselors Association and founded the Journal of Employment Counseling. Ray has published over 120 articles, monographs and books. He was a licensed psychologist (District of Columbia and Maryland) and book reviewer for the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

            Dr. Ehrle then took a turn in private industry as Washington Representative for Teledyne Economic Development Co. Subsequently he returned to academia as Director of Research Support for the George Washington University Business School and retired in 1989.  He frequently wrote his observations about life, society and the spiritual world.

            Among other organizations Dr. Ehrle was a major contributor to the ATO Student Aid Fund, SGAS Research Fund, the University of Missouri McGowan Endowment Library Fund and the German American Museum in Washington, D.C.

            Survivors include his wife of more than 50 years, Sally Allen Ehrle; son John; son Richard of Virginia, his wife Kate and children Christian, Elisabeth and William. His marriage to Betty Turner (deceased) ended in divorce. A grave site service was held in Cochecton New York.

            Donations may be made to the Ehrle Paramedic Scholarship at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC); address: AACC Foundation, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012.