Funeral services for Raymond Louis “Little Ray” Terronez Sr., 72, of East Moline, IL, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at St. Anne Catholic Church in East Moline. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in East Moline. Visitation will be from 3:00–7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Van Hoe Funeral Home in East Moline, where a rosary will be recited at 2:00 p.m. Mr. Terronez passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at MercyOne, Silvis, IL, surrounded by his loving family.

Ray was born on September 6, 1953, in Moline, IL, the son of Rosendo and Cecelia Gamino Terronez. He was one of eight children. He met his life-partner, Victoria Ramirez Terronez, at the age of 14. They married on May 25, 1974, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Davenport, IA.

Ray graduated from United Township High School in East Moline in 1972. While at UTHS, he participated in choir and wrestling. In 2014, he was inducted into the UTHS Hall of Fame as a member of the 1972 Boys Wrestling Team. Ray also played trumpet in the Los Amigos Drum Corps, beginning a lifelong appreciation of drum and bugle corps.

Ray earned his Sho Dan First-Degree Black Belt in Judo on September 7, 1984. His devotion to the sport was powerful, spreading the art to generations of students as the owner and operator of the Quad City Martial Arts Booster Club in the mid-1980s and eventually co-founding QC Judo and Fitness in 2017.

Ray held numerous positions at Arconic (formerly Alcoa) over his 29-year career before retiring in 2019 as a Mobile Equipment Trainer. He was an engaged member of the Employee Resource Group, HABLO, and became an indispensable fixture in the Arconic social network, attending events well past his retirement. Before Arconic, he worked as a quality control inspector at CASE IH, a supervisor at IBP, a night-time security officer at the former Franciscan Hospital, and a bus driver at Project NOW. In retirement, he worked part-time as a funeral attendant at Van Hoe Funeral Home in East Moline.

Ray was a man of many titles—Dad, Grandpa, Sensei, Mr. T., Coach T., and, of course, Little Ray. He was a loving godfather to many, affectionately called “Nino” by countless family members. Ray loved life, believed in people and their goals, and was always the first to lend a hand to a friend (if only he could remember their name).

Most mornings, Ray paired his cafecito on the patio with solving Sudoku puzzles and walking his loyal companion, Leche, where they made frequent stops to greet neighbors and friends. Ray was a connoisseur of collections, filling his home with knick-knacks, vintage electronics, videotapes, signs, and an extensive collection of family photographs. He spent hours curating displays in his garage and porch commemorating all the people in his life while listening to oldies and Mexican music.

A lifelong member of St. Anne’s Parish, Ray strongly believed in Catholic education and proudly sent all three of his children through St. Anne's and Alleman Catholic schools. He spent Thursday nights at the East Moline VFW with tacos, baked goods, live music, and time with lifelong friends and cousins. Ray delighted his family and friends by dressing as Santa Claus at Christmas, insisting that “Grandpa was just napping” in the other room. This past December, he shared that joy with the community by handing out toys along Kennedy Drive with his grandchildren and daughters.

Ray spent summer afternoons at Willow Springs watching his grandchildren swim, and Friday nights dancing with his wife to Crooked Cactus at Mercado on Fifth until closing time. He looked forward to Milwaukee’s Mexican Fiesta every August and cherished the many family vacations taken throughout the United States and Mexico.

While Ray loved cruising around in his convertible Mustang, making a stop (or two) at Goodwill after a meal at the Family Restaurant, above all things, he lived for his family. He found immense joy in watching his children and grandchildren participate in sports, dance, academics, and countless other activities. He enrolled his children in the Quad Cities Ballet Folklórico and attended many performances over the years as his grandchildren eventually enrolled as well. His greatest pride and joy were always his children and grandchildren.

Among those left to remember his legacy are his wife of 52 years, Victoria; his children, Elena Terronez (Brandon) Anderson of Moline, IL, Ray (Cristal Rios) Terronez Jr. of Moline, and Micaela (Austin) Terronez-Enburg of Moline; his grandchildren, Loren, Marici, Graciela, Reymond, and Xitlali; his siblings, Olivia Terronez of Silvis, Seferino (Regina) Terronez of Moline, and Lillian (Cevin) Wallace-Skelton of Loves Park, IL; his sister-in-law, Gloria Terronez of Houston, TX; his sisters-in-law, Connie Jasso Molina of East Moline and Adella (Amalio) Maldonado of Davenport; 12 godchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, and friends; his extended family in San Luis Potosí, Mexico; his Van Hoe family; and his best buddy and faithful companion, “Leche”.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Rosendo “Chendo” Terronez; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Helen and Jesse Jasso; his Sensei Jesse Mills; and his best friend, Gary Lockett.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made to the family in care of Victoria Terronez or to the Quad Cities Ballet Folklórico in his memory.