Obituary of William S. Raymond

William S. Raymond, 67, of Elmira, NY, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on June 5, 2025, after an unexpected illness while visiting loved ones in North Carolina.

Born to the late Edwin L. Raymond Jr. and Barbara (Cleveland) Raymond, Bill was also predeceased by his brother Carl R. Raymond, father-in-law Robert Rafferty, and sister-in-law Shelley Field.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 45 years, Sherry (Rafferty) Raymond. Together, they renewed their vows on their 35th anniversary in Hilton Head, SC, surrounded by family—a cherished memory. Bill is also survived by his three sons: William S. Raymond Jr. of Wendell, NC; Scott (Stephanie) Raymond of Zephyrhills, FL; and Kevin (Ilissa) Raymond of Apex, NC. He was a proud grandfather to Peyton, Audrey, Gavin, Carter, and Olivia.

Bill is also survived by his brothers, Edwin (Jackie) Raymond III of Blairsville, GA, and Richard (Doris) Raymond of Elmira, NY; his mother-in-law Genevieve (May) Rafferty of Elmira; brothers-in-law, Robert (Laurie) Rafferty Jr. of Kokomo, IN, and Randy Rafferty of Fishers, IN; as well as many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and many friends along with his church family at Westside United Methodist Church.

A graduate of Southside High School, Class of 1975, Bill began his career as an appliance repairman at Goostrey’s in downtown Elmira for 19 years before moving into appliance sales and management at Corning Building Company, where he worked for over 20 years. He retired in January 2020. During his time at Corning, Bill also served as President of United Marketing Incorporated (UMI), a role he held with pride, forming lasting friendships and enjoying memorable trips and gatherings.

Bill was a dedicated member and trustee of Westside United Methodist Church. He found joy in visiting his sons and their families in North Carolina and Florida, attending his grandchildren’s sports games, playing board games, and making family memories during vacations to Hilton Head, SC, Tennessee, and on one of many cruises. He enjoyed playing cards, bingo, going to the casino, as well as rooting for his beloved Buffalo Bills and NY Mets. His love for “dad jokes” and his quick wit will be remembered by all who knew him.

Bill was a man of deep faith, unwavering love for his family, and a generous spirit that touched many lives. His legacy will continue through the many hearts he touched.

A heartfelt thank you to the medical teams at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh and Transitions LifeCare Hospice of Raleigh for their professionalism, compassion, and guidance during this time.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Westside United Methodist Church, 743 W. First St. Elmira NY on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  A funeral service will follow at 12:00 noon. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Westside United Methodist Church or Breakthrough T1D (type 1 diabetes research) at P.O. Box 1550, Hagerstown, MD 21741.