Obituary of G. Raymond Lohr

Ray Lohr passed away May 17, 2017 at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington, due to complications after a heart attack he suffered on April 26. He had been a resident of the Olympia/Tumwater area for 44 years. Ray was born December 23, 1948 to Gerald J. and Janet L. (Gindlesperger) Lohr in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Hooversville, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1966 from Forbes High School in Kantner, Pennsylvania. While in high school, he was a member of “The Buggs” rock ‘n’ roll group; he wrote and produced a 45 record entitled “Please Be True to Me Girl” about his high school sweetheart who had moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Shortly thereafter, Ray headed to Anchorage where he married the love of his life, Sandra J. Shumaker, on March 4, 1967. According to Ray, their two sons, Scott and Jeff, are their greatest accomplishment. Ray completed an Operating Engineers Apprenticeship in Safety and Preventative Maintenance, and Certificate of Completion of Supervisory Management Course by American Management Association. He owned a long haul trucking company and sewer vactor operation, but was best known for his mechanical ability to fix any automobile or mechanical device. He also taught beginning and intermediate motorcycle maintenance for Olympia Technical Community College, and was a member of Pace Setters Motorcycle Group. He was a continual teacher and mentor to those he met and will be greatly missed by family and friends. His knowledge of most working systems was amazing and he used that knowledge to better this world. Ray was the glue of his family, both near and far. He always had a positive outlook on any problem and shared his love of the Lord with anyone he met. His wife, sons, their wives and children, and his siblings were the delight of his life. Ray talked with his sons daily and he and Sandy were not only husband and wife but best friends. They celebrated 50 blessed years of marriage this year on March 4. Ray also attended his 50 Year Class Reunion in September, 2016. Ray loved His Lord, playing guitar, gospel music, traveling, hunting with his sons, motorcycling, and racing cars. Together he and Sandy motorcycled across the USA and into Canada. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Brethren Church, and shared his talents through the Peace Family Singers and Radiance. Sometimes one goes home too soon! Ray will be dearly remembered by those he left behind. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sandra J. Lohr; sons, Raymond Scott Lohr (wife, Teresa; daughter, Makenna; and stepsons, Jason and Cameron Frost) and Jeffery Lynn Lohr (wife, Johanna; son, Carter; and daughter, Delanie); brothers, Ernest B. Lohr and Charles Dwayne Lohr; and sisters, Donna Malas and Maureen College. Please leave memories of Ray or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below. Also, please check back for additional photos which will be posted above.