Raymond L. Dowling

Raymond L. Dowling, born on January 9, 1933, in Victoria, British Columbia, passed away peacefully with his family by his side at the age of 80, on August 1, 2013 due to complications from a heart attack. He resided in San Dimas, California at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina, California.

Ray was born in Nanaimo, Victoria Island, British Columbia, Canada on Jan. 9, 1933. His birth mother was Marjorie Dowling. Ray was lovingly raised (along with his adoptive sister Jean Quillen) by his adoptive parents Harold and Mary Stephenson in Vancouver, Canada. After leaving home at the age of 16, Ray worked his way to Toronto where he found his two loves: his wife Joan and plastic injection molding. On March 1, 1955, he married his caring wife of 58 years, Joan Perreira, of Georgetown, Guyana. In 1957, Ray along with pregnant Joan and baby Peggy, moved his family to Los Angeles.

Ray started his own company, UPM, Inc. in 1962. The company has grown from three small machines with only a few employees to a successful company that employs nearly 300 people today. Ray was a leader in the plastics industry for over 50 years. Ray proved himself to be a generous, honest, humorous mentor to all. Although he only had a tenth grade education, Ray took immense pride in building a company that employed so many great people. He loved walking the floor, talking to employees about their lives, and finding a way to help them. He considered everyone who worked at UPM part of his family.

Ray was a longtime resident of San Dimas and had battled back from several illnesses. He survived a stroke in 1982, a kidney transplant in 1990, and cancer in 2003. He was an avid golfer and will be missed at the Via Verde Country Club of which he was a founding member. Ray loved fishing in Cabo, water skiing at Lake Havasu, snow skiing, working his "system" at blackjack, winning at liar's poker, playing cards with his friends, shooting pool, going to Laker and Dodger games, telling stories, and spending time with his family.

Ray is survived by his wife, Joan, his four children: Peggy, Steve, Jason and Andy; six grandchildren: Kristi, Nick, Kelley, Raegen, Tatum and Luc; one great-grandchild: Riley; and two daughters in-law: Janis and Rusty.