Obituary of Raymond E Smith

Raymond Edgar Smith, 97, entered eternal life on Saturday, August 26, 2023.  He was born in South Plainfield, NJ on December 24, 1925 to Myrtle Sumner Randolph & Raymond Leigh Smith.  On March 25, 1950 he married the love of his life, Joyce Olga Walker.  He is survived by daughters, Gail Powers, Donna Dickinson (John); grandchildren Dawn Marie Powers, Kristine Jarmer (Luke), Kelly and Sean Dickinson; great-grandchildren Kyla and Ezra Jarmer, along with numerous nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents; his wife of 70 years; sisters Aretta Janes, Ruth Rinehart, Mildred Runyon and brother Kenneth Smith; nephews Barry Runyon & William Janes; great-granddaughter Leah Grace Jarmer.

He served in the Marine Air Corp from 1944-46 in Guam and the Marshall Islands as his commander’s personal plane mechanic.  After his discharge he worked at Johns Manville for twenty years as a draftsman.  He then started his own home improvement business.   He spent many years as a volunteer for Readington Twp. restoration projects, including converting the abandoned Whitehouse Station railroad station into the present-day library, preserving both the Eversoll house and Stickney Readington Farmhouse, and the Cold Brook School restoration.  He also designed and built all three homes his family  lived in since 1950.

Ed was a 75 plus year member of the Whitehouse United Methodist Church where he was a long-time trustee and utilized his carpentry skills. He also could be found lending a hand from fixing bicycles for reuse by needy children to serving as cook and bottle washer during church events. 

 A celebration of Ed’s life will be held on Thursday, August 31^st at the Whitehouse United Methodist Church.  Service will start at 10:00 a.m. with the Rev. Dianna Stone officiating. There will be no calling hours but please visit Kearns Funeral Home website for a photo display of Ed’s life.  Burial along with military honors will be in Newell Cemetery in Stanton.  In lieu of flowers, please honor his memory with donations to The Whitehouse United Methodist Church, PO Box 190, Whitehouse, NJ. 08888.