Raymond John Niksarian, April 03, 1930 — January 14, 2019

Raymond’s Obituary Raymond John Niksarian was born April 3, 1930, in San Francisco, California. He was the youngest son of Haig and Pella Niksarian. When he was 12 years old, he started working in his father’s shoe store in San Francisco and continued throughout high school.

He attended San Francisco City College and transferred to U.C. Berkeley, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1952. He moved to Southern California where he began a long career working in the Aerospace and Engineering fields. He married Sona Ajderian in 1961 and had two children, Karen and Steven.

His wife Sona died in 1991 after a long battle with cancer. They were married for 30 years. In 2006, Ray moved to Fresno where he met Mary Katherine Kalashian and they were married November 2007.

They cherished their 11 years of marriage. Ray knew Jesus Christ as his Savior and was part of church families in the Armenian and American communities. It was his joy to be part of Gideon’s International, distributing Bibles in schools, hotels, prisons, and hospitals.

During his life, Ray survived three heart bypass operations. Eventually a heart transplant extended his life for an additional 22 and-a-half years. Ray and Mary Katherine enjoyed traveling to domestic and international destinations with his new heart, causing his heart transplant team to use him as a model, encouraging and giving hope to other patients.

He peacefully went to be with his Savior on January 14, 2019 with his wife and children by his side. Ray is survived by his wife, Mary Katherine, son, Steven Niksarian, daughter, Karen Muncherian and husband Stephen, grandchildren, Andrew (wife Dylan), Nicholas, Jonathan, and Julianna. In addition he is survived by sister-in-laws, Verjene Kalashian and Sylvia Kalashian, brother-in-law, Richard Kalashian and Gail Purtell, niece and nephews, great nieces and great nephew, and cousins including many, many friends.

Celebration of life services will be held at the First Armenian Presbyterian Church in Fresno (430 South First Street) 11:00 a.m., February 2, 2019.

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