George Ray "Ray" was born 27 November 1890 in Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa, the middle son of 3 born to George Washington and Jennie ELDRIDGE BAWDEN of Davenport, Scott, Iowa. He attended Davenport schools and the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta social fraternity.

In 1912, after 2 years in Madison, Ray returned to Davenport to work with his brother Albert "AR" in the rapidly growing Davenport Postcard and Novelty Company.

On 18 June 1918, Ray enlisted in the Army, serving as a Sgt in the Quartermaster Corps; first, with Company 7 at Camp Meigs, Washington, D.C.; later with Company 11, 163 Depot Brigade at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa. AFter WWI, the three brothers - AR, Ray and Harry decided to form BAWDEN Bros, Inc. Ray was the first office mgr and bookkeeper.

Ray married Viola Katherine "Vi" DUVALL on 16 Feb 1921 in her parents' Bennett, Cedar, Iowa home. She was born 7 Apr 1895 in Beardstown, Cass, Illinois, oldest of 3 dtrs of John Frederick "Tom" and Katherine HANSMEYER/MEIER DUVALL.

After attending high school in Taylorville, Cass, Illinois, Vi came to Davenport where she lived with family friends and was employed by ABRAHAM's Ladies ready-to-wear store until her marriage.

Vi was president of Visiting Nurse Association and active in Republican Women's activities. At 90 she still able to live on her own in the home Ray built for her at the time in the Davenport boonies at 161 Forest Road.

Ray died suddenly of a heart attack 13 Apr 1954 in his home. He was president of BAWDEN Bros. Inc at his death. The family were members of the First Presbyterian Church. Ray and Vi are buried in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery. Vi died 12 May 1987 in Davenport.

They had 2 children:
1. George Ray "Binc" BAWDEN, Jr. born 7 Mar 1924 in Davenport, this writer's father.
2. John Duvall "Tim" BAWDEN born 23 Sept 1929 in Davenport
Seperate blogs for each.