In the first food business, Ray Kroc is quite a renowned name. He was the CEO, and later on, the owner of an American fast-food corporation named McDonald’s. In addition, Ray Kroc was the one who turned the corporation into the most successful in the world.
Now, let’s find out the answer to the question asked above, is Ray Kroc still alive?
The answer is NO. Unfortunately, Ray Kroc is not alive in 2022. On 14 January 1984, he died in San Diego, California, United States of America. People remember him for being the purchaser of the fast-food corporation named McDonald’s. Besides, McDonald’s reached its potential through him.
How did Ray Kroc die?
On 14 January 1984, Ray Kroc died due to heart failure. In addition, he died in a hospital in San Diego, California, at the age of 81.
Before suffering heart failure, Ray Kroc was at an alcohol rehabilitation center to quit his bad habit. After his death, his body was buried in Sorrento Valley, San Diego’s El Camino Memorial Park.
Did Ray Kroc die happy?
No one knows if Ray Kroc was happy or not at the time of death. However, he tried to quit some of his bad habits, such as drinking alcohol before dying.
In 1980, Ray Kroc suffered a stroke before entering the alcohol rehabilitation facility. Moreover, he died from heart failure caused by his alcohol problem.
Besides all these, Ray Kroc had some severe health conditions. When his age was around 50 to 55, he got some incurable diseases, including developed arthritis and diabetes. Moreover, Ray Kroc had to remove most of his thyroid glands and gallbladder.
For suffering such incurable diseases, Ray Kroc was flexible towards treatment, research, and education regarding some subjects, such as diabetes, sclerosis, arthritis, and alcoholism. There are non-profitable medical facilities named Ronald McDonald House for treating children and parents free of charge.
Who is Ray Kroc’s Wife?
Ray Kroc has married three women in his entire life. His first wife was Ethel Fleming, who met in 1919, and they married in 1922. After living together for more than 39 years, the two divorced in 1961.
Later on, in 1963, Ray Kroc married another woman named Jane Dobbins Green. However, their marriage did not sustain like his previous marriage. In 1968, the two divorced and took separate paths.
At the time of Ray Kroc’s death, he was married to Joan Kroc. They married in 1969 and stayed married for eternity as he was in wedding marriage contact with her while dying in 1984.
Who was Ray Kroc’s daughter?
After marrying Ethel Fleming in 1922, the couple shifted to Chicago, Illinois. While staying there, the two welcomed their first and only daughter named Marilyn Kroc Barg in 1924. Eventually, she became the only child of Ray Kroc.
Ray Kroc’s daughter suffered from diabetes and other diseases, such as arthritis. In 1973, Marilyn Kroc Barg died.
Is Joan Kroc still alive?
Joan Kroc was the last wife of Ray Kroc. On 12 October 2003, she died of brain cancer at a hospital in Rancho Santa Fe, California, United States of America. Later, Joan Kroc’s body was buried in El Camino Memorial Park, Sorrento Valley, San Diego, California, where her husband is buried.
After Ray Kroc died in 1984, Joan Kroc became the owner of his fortune. However, she has made good use of his money. After she died in 2003, Joan’s 2.3 billion dollars have remained, donated to several non-profit organizations.
1.5 billion dollars from Joan Kroc’s fortune went for the Salvation Army to establish 26 Kroc Centers. Besides, she donated 200 million dollars to National Public Radio as she had a strong belief in public radio. Moreover, the rest of Joan Kroc’s money has gone to community centers for young stars.
Sources
- https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/15/obituaries/ray-a-kroc-dies-at-81-built-mcdonald-s-chain.html – Ray Kroc Died In 1984 (New York Times)
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3207/ray-kroc – Ray Kroc’s Burial (Find Grave)
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1984/01/15/mcdonalds-chief-ray-kroc-dies/5c5007d4-9cad-4fad-8a7f-08b8a785a33b/ – Health Issues of Ray Kroc (The Washington Post)
