Renaldo “Ray” Jensen, age 87 of Farmington Hills, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2022.

Ray was born in New York, New York. His parents, Octave and Doris Davis Jensen, had roots in St. Croix and Antigua, respectively. Ray graduated from Howard University in 1958 with his B.S. Degree in mechanical engineering. Shortly after graduation, he married his college sweetheart, Alicia. After enlisting in the United States Air Force, Ray became one of the first two African Americans to earn their M.S. degrees in aerospace engineering from the United States Air Force School of Technology at Dayton’s Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 1966. In 1970, Ray received his Ph.D. degree in aerospace engineering, specializing in supersonic combustion from Purdue University.

While serving for twenty years as an officer in the United States Air Force, Ray was stationed in Florida, Colorado, and Germany; he also worked on the Minuteman missile crew at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. In 1978, Ray resigned from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel having received the Missile Combat Crew Award and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Ray also taught at Howard University and worked at the Pentagon before joining Ford Motor Company as a principal design engineer in the Aerodynamics Department. 

In 2005, Ray retired as the director of Ford Motor Company Minority Supplier Development, a program which was specifically created to revitalize and expand Ford’s business relationships with its minority suppliers. During his tenure, he awarded over $3.7 billion in Ford supply contracts to 309 minority suppliers. Ray received numerous awards and accolades for his work during his career. 

Ray enjoyed playing golf, riding his motorcycle, listening to music and sharing his knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics with everyone. Ray was the consummate storyteller!   

Ray is preceded in death by his son, Renaldo M. Jensen II and his wife, Alicia. Ray is survived by his daughter, Malinda (Michael) Jensen Jenkins; his grandson, Alex Scott; nieces, Mariana, Sheryl and many cousins and friends. 

Ray wants to be remembered as someone who made a difference and put others before himself. He stated that the reward of what he does is in the way he is able to affect those around him.

A private family memorial service will be held.

Ray will be laid to rest at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan.