Obituary of Raymond E. Smythe

Raymond Edward Smythe Ray died on March 8, 2010 in his home on Hospice following a long struggle with cancer. Ray was born in Glenrock, Wyoming on May 20, 1920 and moved with his parents to San Diego, California in 1928. Ray attended school through high school where he met his wife Phyllis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis of 68 years in June 2007. He will be missed by his three children and their spouses, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Ray was a decorated veteran of three wars. He retired in 1966 from the Unites States Air Force as a Lt. Colonel, having served as a fighter pilot, Provost Marshall and as an associate professor of ROTC at Dartmouth College. After retirement, Ray moved to the Island of Oahu, Hawaii with his wife and daughter, Cherie. For five years the three sailed the Pacific waters that included a voyage to American Samoa. Ray was a master sailor and navigator. Ray and Phyllis moved to the Big Island of Hawaii in 1978 and continued to enjoy the sea on their 15 ft. outboard fishing boat and assisting in many Coast Guard rescues and searches. Ray served as a volunteer and board member in many organizations. Ray's last home was in Olympia, Washington in a house built by his son, Tim. He will be remembered by many friends and colleagues as a great story teller and generous friend. A memorial is planned for sometime in May with place and time to be announced.