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8 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2020 By Elizabeth Westbrook It may have been months since you have seen Ray Windhorn playing in the Billiards Room, soaking in the Spa, walking the trails, or caught him sitting on a bench amidst the quiet and serenity of the trees. A while back I was walking on the trail and I found Ray in just that setting and wondered what he could be thinking about. After talking with Ray for this article, I can now imagine one of them — his dream job as an engineering manager at the engine overhaul shop in the aircraft engines division of General Electric (GE). How many of us can say that their jobs lead to opportunities to stay in Turkey for four years or two years in Saudi Arabia? Or pitch GE products to the Chinese and Japanese? To top it off, he was able to share these once-in-a-lifetime experiences with his late wife, Mary Lou. His expertise made him the perfect candidate for a job in Eskisehir, Turkey where he oversaw the assembly program for the engines for F-16 fighter planes for the Turkish Air Force. Meeting new people and experiencing different cultures were added bonuses to the job. And then there's the memorable three-week vacation in the summer of 1988 when Ray and Mary Lou decided to drive to Scotland in a 1977 Mercedes 250. Just in case you want to duplicate the route: from Eskisehir to Istanbul, west to Greece, north along the west coast of Yugoslavia, and Salzburg, Austria. Continue to Munich, Germany, Amsterdam, and Brussels and on to Oostende, Belgium. Next, take a ferry to Dover, England. From Dover through London, up the west coast to Glasgow, then Edinburgh. These days, you and I would take a cruise or a group tour to navigate these destinations. However, Ray had talents with engines so it's no wonder Mary Lou had complete confidence with him behind the wheel. During home leaves, they were afforded several opportunities to fly from Helsinki and around the globe to the United States. They took the long way home and in doing so, experienced forty-five countries over time. What a jet-set couple! After four years in Turkey, Ray and Mary Lou went back to California. Shortly after Ray's retirement of 40 years with GE, he qualified for a job in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His presentations included Saudi generals in the audience. Ray clearly demonstrated his ability to manage the military and commercial engines. It wasn't all work for Ray. He and Mary Lou visited the countryside, including Bahrain and Dubai. They met new people and created friendships. Experiences for Mary Lou included abiding by the rules of clothing when out in public areas. Two years later, Ray retired again and they made plans to go home. Being sentimental, Ray couldn't part with his car with the Saudi Arabian license plate. I know what I would have done. Take the license plate off and pack it in my suitcase. No, not Ray. He decided, with Mary Lou, to drive the car along the Mediterranean — up Jordan through Syria; baffling border patrols, Turkey through several European countries — and at the port of Bremerhaven, in northern Germany, put the car on a freighter. After a month on the road they took a flight and landed in Ontario, California. The waiting game for the car ended when the freighter landed in New York. Ray flew there and took another month to drive it across the United States while stopping to visit his children at their homes. It's no wonder Ray can be found sitting quietly with his thoughts and reminiscing about the wonderful dream job and the wild adventures of traveling with his Mary Lou. Maybe you will be lucky enough to get invited to his house and browse the many souvenirs of their travels and impeccable organization of pictures and travelogues. And yes, Ray is managing being alone but he is looking forward to traveling to Cincinnati and venturing out with his children and grandchildren. And, he has the 8-Ball Club that will keep him entertained when it resumes. Ray can always count on his buddies at Four Seasons. Instructing in assembly One of many rest stops to European destinations Working with an international team (Ray is on the far right) RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT Ray Windhorn: Globe Trotter For Work & Play