Obituary of Waldemar S. Raymond

Mr. Waldemar ?Walt? S. Raymond, 98 years old of Riverview Drive, Cranesville, died Friday at the Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility, Amsterdam where he had been a patient for the past few weeks. Mr. Raymond was born February 21, 1908 in Ft. Johnson, the son of Earnest and Lenore Babcock Raymond and was a life long resident of the Amsterdam area. Walt owned and operated Raymond?s Ice Cream Store on Rt.5, East of Amsterdam, for 25 years, until being forced to close because of the construction of the new Rt.5 arterial Highway. He became Collector-Treasurer of Cranesville School District #2 in 1946, changing to Trustee three years later. Walt helped to organize the Cranesville Vol. Fire Dept. in 1949 becoming its first Treasurer. He later served as Secretary for 17 years. Walt was active in town Republican politics, being a committeeman of District 3, Town of Amsterdam, for 20 years. He became a councilman on the Amsterdam Town Board for 4 years and was then elected as Supervisor, serving a total of 8 years. In 1972, he was appointed Montgomery Co. Historian, filling that post for four years. Mr. Raymond was a member of Scattergood Grange #1514 for many years. He was a member of the Cranesville Reformed Church, having served as a deacon, elder and a member of the Men?s Fellowship Club. Walt was a member of the Cranesville Country Cousins and was noted for many activities that benefited his community. Walt married the former Adella Coursen of Richford, Vermont on August 13, 1931. She died January 18, 1994. He is survived by his daughter Joyce R. Robert H. Lee of Manny Corners, a sister Dorothea Van Valkenburg of Lancaster, Mass., 3 grandchildren; William R. Holly Lee, Lucinda A. Robert Reakes and Roberta Greg Heck, and 5 great grandchildren; Kendall, Chelsea and Forrest Lee and R.J. and Austin Reakes. Funeral services will be held 1:00pm Tuesday at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue. Burial is in Fairview Cemetery. A calling hour will precede the service at the funeral home from 12-1:00pm. Memorial contributions may be made in his Walt?s memory to the Cranesville Reformed Church or Cranesville Volunteer Fire Department.