Obituaries

Raymond Wallace Day

Photo of Raymond Wallace Day
RAYMOND WALLACE DAY, 85, passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2018 after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was born on April 9, 1933 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Raymond is preceded in death by his parents, Ruth Naomi Willingham Holtzclaw and Thomas Franklin Day; as well as his stepfather, Frank Holtzclaw. Raymond is also preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Joan Day, who he dearly loved and cherished. They were happily married for 56 years and may they now rest in peace together. Raymond graduated from Little Rock High School in 1951 and later attended Little Rock Junior College. In 1953, he joined the army during the Korean War, as a Bridge Specialist in the 100th Engineering Company and was stationed in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He received the rank of Corporal and was honorably discharged in 1955. Raymond used the GI Bill to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he graduated in 1958 with a degree in industrial engineering. He returned to Little Rock, after graduation, where he met his wife at the pizza restaurant she owned. They married three months later. Raymond and Barbara truly loved each other and spent all their waking hours together. Raymond also enjoyed spending time with his three sons as their Scoutmaster of their Boy Scout troop. He loved camping, hiking and attending summer camps with his sons and their troop. He mentored hundreds of young men as they pursued their Eagle Scout Badge. Raymond received numerous awards and accolades for his service to the Boy Scouts. He spent most of his career designing industrial kitchens for large institutions such as public schools, correctional facilities, nursing homes and hospitals. In his spare time, Raymond loved to travel, having visited 43 countries with Barbara over a 14 year period. Also, he and Barbara enjoyed going antique shopping throughout the southeast. He had a sharp mind and loved to read and work daily crossword puzzles. Some of his other hobbies included woodworking, gardening, and painting. He is survived by his three sons; Bryan, his wife, Betsy, and their two children, Sierra and Spencer; Brad and his wife, Maria, and their children, Emily and Caroline; and Brent and his wife, Carrie, and their son, Jesse. A special thank you to the amazing staff at The Manor in Benton and Arkansas Hospice, for comforting Raymond during his battle with Alzheimer's. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations in Raymond's honor be made to the Alzheimer's Arkansas Programs and Services, 201 Markham Center Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 or www.alzark.org. www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.

Published June 21, 2018

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