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Raymond Gerald Smith, 91, Parkersburg, WV, was received by heavenly Father on October 31, 2025.
He was born June 28, 1934 in West Milford, Harrison County, WV, the son of Rev. Robert Raymond Smith and Loxa Marie (Shreve) Smith, formerly Mill Creek, Randolph Count. In 1935, the family moved to Ritchie County to the Rusk Charge. His father died in 1937 and the family remained in Ritchie Co. Raymond and his siblings all attended Cairo High School, where Raymond and his twin brother, Robert, graduated in 1953. Ray was a long time member of the North Fork Baptist Church of Racy where the family attended after his father's death. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force stationed inTexas; Wyoming, and Massachusetts with an 18 month tour in Okinawa. After four years of service he received an honorable discharge. In August, 1961, he went to New York City where he was employed by National Airlines. While employed with National Airlines he worked in New York City, NY; Charleston, SC; San Diego, CA and Fort Lauderdale, FL. While in Florida the company was sold to Pan American Airways and he was moved to Houston, TX, where he remained until Nov., 1990, when the company declared bankruptcy and he returned to Parkersburg.
Ray was a member of the United Methodist Church where he was a member of the Murphytown United Methodist where he served as Sunday School teacher and on many church committees.
He served as President of the Cairo High School Alumni for nine years and as the Outreach Secretary since then. He was a 50-plus year member of the Queensboro Lodge 892 F& A.M. New York.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his six siblings, French (Mary Virginia) Smith, Lawrence Smith, Edith (Harold) Mason, Olive (Bus) Kerns, Iris (Paul) Parks, and his twin brother, Rev. Robert Smith who died in an auto accident in 1966. He is also preceded in death by his nephew Eldon Kerns, and two nieces Connie Jones and Paulette Lord.
He is survived by nieces Barbara (Dan) Ireland, Linda (Roger) Durst, Sandra Mason, Lynn Hilkey, Pamela Parks and Kimberly (Erik) Esters and nephews – James (Diane) Kerns, Richard Smith, Roger (Vicki) Mason and Perry (Frances) Mason, 15 great nieces and nephews, 33 great great nieces and nephews, and five great great great nieces and nephews.
At his request his body has been donated to WVU School of Medicine. Celebration Life service is being planned but no date has been at this date. Memorials may be sent to Murphytown Methodist Church or Cairo Alumni Scholarship Fund.