Sterling Ray Ericksen, BHS 1946

Sterling Ray Ericksen, BHS 1946

September 25, 1928 - October 20, 2021 

Ray was born in Carlin, Nevada. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1931 during "The Great Depression". He graduated from Burbank High School in August, 1946, and enlisted in the Navy at the age of seventeen. 

After graduating from Treasure Island Navy Electronics School, he was assigned to the USS Piedmont, a Destroyer Tender (AD-17), where he repaired ship vacuum tube electronics. His ship was stationed in Tsing Tao, China, for most of 1948. 

When discharged from the Navy, he received the WW II Victory Medal, the China Service Medal, and the WW II GI Bill, which made it possible for him to attend USC. At USC in 1953, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and was President of the Sigma Phi Delta Engineering Fraternity. That college degree was a first in his family. He met Margareta (UCLA) on a blind date and immediately began a three year quest to convince her to say "I do". After graduation, they married, and then honeymooned in Atami, Japan. 

They lived in Yokohama, Japan, where Ray worked for Philco Radio Corporation at the Army Signal Corp Depot. After Japan, he was assigned to San Francisco supporting Army Nike Missile Sites and then to the Signal Corps Depot in Pirmasens, Germany. While in Germany, Ray and Margareta traveled extensively throughout Western Europe. In 1959, Ray went to work for System Development Company. For the next 30 years he worked in the Computer Program Integration Contractor (CPIC) organization supporting satellite projects. At retirement in 1989, he was Department Manager of the company's satellite support program with the Air Force. 

After retirement, Ray and Margareta moved from Palos Verdes Estates, CA., to live for ten years in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Margareta would take award winning photos and Ray would study the local geology. Ray was an amateur geologist, who loved to share his enthusiasm for this earth science with his friends and family. In 2000, they moved back to the Palos Verdes Peninsula to stay. Ray took up golf and connected with San Pedro and Palos Verdes golfers. He "shot his age" at 77. He and Margareta continued their traveling. They met and became lasting friends with many wonderful people. Ray felt that he was lucky to live in such an interesting time span, and travel to and live in many countries. 

Ray was preceded in death by his mother and father, Elva and Lorin Ericksen, and his brother, Leon. Ray is survived by the one and only love of his life, his wife of 68 Years, Margareta, and by his loved and loving family: a daughter, Karen, a son, Carl and Carl's wife, Anna, and grandchildren Kerstin, Lisa (Chris), Nathan (Samantha), and Todd (Saliha), and two great-grandsons, Ali and Sami. 

The memories of joy, humor, and love that Ray brought into all of our lives will stay in our hearts forever. The date for a memorial service is pending. In Ray's memory, contributions can be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Published by Daily Breeze on Oct. 28, 2021.