July 18, 2018 Raymond R. Leonard ORANGE- Raymond R. “Ray” Leonard, 86, of Columbia Avenue, died unexpectedly on Monday, July 16, 2018 at Athol Hospital after being stricken ill. Born on December 18, 1931 in Barton, Vermont, he was a son of the late Ronald O. and Gertrude (Desreuisseau) Leonard and grew up in Barton, graduating from Barton Academy after attending Orange High School a couple years. Ray married Beverly J. (Hutchins) of Barton in January of 1952, enjoying 66 years together and they lived 2 years in Witchia Falls, Texas, Erving, MA for 3 years and have resided in Orange for over 55 years.
In 1950, Ray entered the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict and obtained the rank of Airman Second Class before his honorable discharge in 1953. Ray retired from the Erving Paper Mill after many years. He previously had worked for the Mears Wooden Heal Co. in Erving, Union Twist Drill and Sherwin Williams Co. both in Athol, and the Bendix Corp.
in Greenfield. Ray attended the apprentice program while at Union Twist Drill, and had also attended Springfield Technical Community College. Ray was a longtime member of the Orange United Methodist Church since 1974 where he served as past chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Administrative Board.
He was Past President of the Franklin County Churchmen’s Brotherhood Association and previously an active member of the Orange Central Congregational Church where he served as a choir member and soloist. A Master Mason for many years, Ray was Past Master of Orange Lodge A.F & A.M- 1961 and 1970, Past Master of Harmony Lodge A.F. & A.M of Northfield, and was a current member of the North Quabbin Lodge A.F & A.M, which incorporated the former Star, Athol and Orange Lodges, and volunteered as an escort at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Northampton. Ray was also an Installing Officer and Organist for several Masonic Lodges in Franklin County.
Ray had served as and Assistant Troop Leader for Erving Boy Scouts, was a fireman on the Erving Fire Department, and a Town of Orange Assessor from 1996-1999. He also was chairman of the Brookside Mobile Home Park Tenant’s Association several terms, a long time blood donor for Red Cross, was on the Town of Orange Board of Registrars as well as being a poll worker in Orange. Survivors include his beloved wife, Beverly Leonard of Orange; daughters, Rae Ellen Drummond (James) of Dublin, OH and Deborah Jean Wisniewski (Paul) of Amherst, NH; grandchildren, Amanda Tschaenn (Nate) of Yukon, OK, J. Curtis Drummond of Portland, ME, Brittany Liscord (Rob) of South Portland, ME, and Jonathan Drummond (Hannah) of Dublin, OH; great grandchildren, Eli Tschaenn, Allyson Tschaenn and Cora Tschaenn; and several nephews and nieces.
Besides his parents, Ray was predeceased by a granddaughter, Victoria Wisniewski and brothers, Carl Leonard and Norman Leonard. A calling hour will be held on Sunday, July 22 ,2018 from 1-2 p.m. , at Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange. A service will immediately follow at 2 p.m. at Witty’s Funeral Home in Orange.
Interment will be private at West Look Cemetery in Glover, Vermont.
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