James L. Raymond

James L. Raymond   9/17/1946 – 5/9/2018

It is with great sadness that the family of Jim Raymond announces his passing on Wednesday, May 9th 2018.

Jim will remain in our hearts forever!

After graduating from Louisville High School, Jim attended The College of Wooster where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Mathematics and Music. 

At the time of his graduation from The College of Wooster, the Viet Nam War was taking place.   Jim joined the Navy and graduated from the US Gov’t Advanced Electronics Schools becoming a Data/Voice/Weapons Communications Expert.  He was stationed in the Philippines and Japan during the war and was responsible for saving thousands of military lives with his expertise in developing electronics that made our military men, submarines, and ships electronically invisible to the enemy. 

He graduated from Officers Candidate School and became a Lieutenant in the Navy specializing in Data Security.  While serving at his last post in Washington DC, he was also a Naval Attaché to the War College specializing in Language Assistance (French/German/Japanese) for foreign dignitaries.

After leaving the Navy, Jim chose to remain and work as a civilian contractor in their Network Security Department in the same capacity he held in the Navy.  During this period of time, he obtained his Master of Music Degree from The Catholic University of America. 

Upon returning home to Louisville, he worked for Ohio Bell Telephone company, Southern Bell, IBM, and AT&T as the company name kept changing, but his desk remained in the same place.  He liked describe his final position as being a part of the Internet Police.  He watched for hostile intrusions to their networks all over the world, stopped them, and followed up with preventing another attack in the same area. 

On his personal side, Jim was a part time Organist / Choir Director for various Churches / Synagogues starting in High School, through college, and Military bases around the world.  He was a Piano / Organ teacher for students of all ages wherever he was located.  Jim was the Church Organist for Paradise Church until 2018.  Altogether, he functioned as a church organist for a total of 59 years.  After he retired, he became a substitute teacher for the Louisville School System, and he was involved with the Louisville Scholarship Foundation.  Jim was also a philanthropist who donated to many universities and charities.  His main charitable emphasis was geared towards the education of children, and the Louisville School System was his favorite.  Jim was a long-time member of the Canton Symphony Orchestra Chorus and was a past president of same.

Jim was born to the late Walter and Lenora (Pontius) Raymond.  He was also preceded in death by his younger sister, Sheri (Raymond) Thorpe.  Jim was the only brother and best friend of his surviving sister, Diana (Raymond) Webb of North Canton, Ohio.  In addition to his sister, he is survived by his two nephews Tim Kerstetter of North Canton, Ohio, and Tom and Lisa Kerstetter of University Place, Washington; and his two great nephews Bradley and Rachel Kerstetter of Strongsville, Ohio, and Brian Kerstetter of Louisville, Ohio.

A memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life will be held at 12noon on Friday June 29th, 2018 in the Sanctuary of Paradise United Church of Christ, 619 East Main St, Louisville, OH 44641. Jim’s family will receive friends from 6-8pm Thurs, June 28th, 2018 in the Church Sanctuary. Online condolences may be left at www.stierisraelfuneralhome.com

                                                                                  Stier-Israel Funeral Home

                                                                                              330-875-1414

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.