Raymond H. Whitehead

Dec. 7, 1919 — Nov. 10, 2016

Raymond passed away on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, at the Mennonite Village in Albany.

Raymond was born in S. Stukeley, Quebec, Canada, on Dec. 7, 1919, to Olaf Whitehead and Lottie Atkins Whitehead. When Raymond was 5 years old his parents moved to Attleboro, Massachusetts. Olaf and Lottie became United States citizens and Raymond became a naturalized American citizen.

Raymond went to school in Attleboro. He played football when he was in high school and graduated from Attleboro High School.

Raymond was working at a mill in Attleboro that made jewelry and watches when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. That was on Dec. 7, 1941, and was on his birthday. He was drafted into the army where he was trained to be a mechanic. He worked on jeeps and tanks. While stationed in Oklahoma, he met Leona. They had a whirlwind romance. They decided not to get married until he got back from the war. Ray and Leona wrote each other for two years while he was overseas.

Raymond said "I had a walking tour of Europe." He was in Patton's army. He landed at Normandy on D-Day 3 and was in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he came back to the States and went to Oklahoma where he married Leona. They were married for over 60 years. They moved to Albany in 1946.

Raymond worked for Southern Pacific Railroads as a diesel mechanic for 10 years. He was laid off when they closed the Roundhouse in Albany. He then became employed as a millwright at Wah Chang, where he later retired from.

Raymond enjoyed fishing, gardening, playing pool and traveling in his RV with Leona.  They had a second home in Desert Hot Springs, California, where he enjoyed swimming in the mineral water pool.

He was a member of Willamette Community Church (formerly First Baptist). He was also a member of the American Legion. Raymond enjoyed visiting with his family, neighbors, and friends.

His wife Leona preceded him in death.

He is survived by his daughter, Delores; son-in-law David; grandson Jim (Keli); granddaughter Ruth (Brent); and five great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow the service at Willamette Memorial Park in Albany.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Raymond's name to American Legion Albany Post 10 or Willamette Community Church in Albany.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements (aasum-dufour.com).