Raymond Roseberry Aldrich


Raymond Roseberry Aldrich, 93, of Lamont, passed from this life March 16, 2015, at the Kansas Veterans home in Winfield, Kan., where he received excellent care.

Services will be at 10 a.m., March 21, 2015, at the Lamont United Methodist Church, Lamont, with Reverend Alan Nagel officiating.

Interment will be in Rosemound Cemetery, Medford. Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home, Pond Creek.

Raymond was born on Sept. 5, 1921, to Dewitt and Cora Aldrich on a farm northwest of Medford.

His first eight years of school were completed in country schools in the Medford and Deer Creek areas. He continued his education after graduating from Deer Creek High School at Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa, where he served as a volunteer fire fighter and sang in a barbershop quartet.

After college Raymond found work in Wichita, Kan. There he met the love of his life, Helen Angle, and they married on Nov. 22, 1942.

During World War II when our country called, Raymond enlisted in the U. S. Navy. He was sent to Camp Perry, Richmond, Va., for boot camp where he was recognized for marksmanship and became a naval rifle instructor.

Later, he was sent to the Philippines with the Navy Seabees to help build air strips, military bases, and to repair and maintain equipment.

After Raymond’s honorable discharge in December 1945, he returned to Helen and family in Wichita, and worked at Cessna and Beechcraft as a machinist.

Eventually, the family moved back to Oklahoma to farm. During the 46 years of farming, they raised four children (Chuck, Joe, Bonnie, Jim).

Many considered Raymond a master mechanic and machinist and he built a shop on the farm where he repaired and maintained his own machinery as well as equipment for many others.

One innovative accomplishment was to design and help build seven self-propelled hay wagons.

Raymond could be counted on to help neighbors and families in need, including after accidents, illness, tornadoes, etc. Besides farming oilfields, and operated a gas station. His hard work was to supplement the farming income.

Because of his strong work ethics, Raymond instilled in his children the concept of hard work has its rewards. Raymond loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He, also, enjoyed traveling, reunions, playing cards, dominoes, and fishing.

Raymond and his family belonged to the Lamont United Methodist Church where he was active in the United Methodist Men’s group.

He was also involved in the Lamont Lions Club, was a lifetime Member of the American Legion Post 209 Lamont, Blackwell V.F. W., and was a 32nd degree Mason in the Lamont Masonic Lodge.

Raymond is survived by his children, Charles (Chuck) Aldrich and wife, Marlyn, of Hunter, Okla.; Joe Aldrich and wife, Darlene, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; Bonnie (Aldrich) Ledet and husband, David, of Yuma, Colo.; and Jimmy (Jim) Aldrich and wife, Paula, of Lamont; twelve grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

He is also survived by one brother, Harold Aldrich and wife, Bernita, Blackwell; and two sisters, Colene Mercer, Blackwell; and Marva Brittle, Tucson, Ariz.; and many treasured nieces, nephews and their families.

Raymond is preceded in death by his parents, Dewitt and and Cora Aldrich; wife, Helen; three siblings in infancy; sister, Ellen Goertz and husband, Orval; brother, Vernon Dee Aldrich and wife, Zelda; and brothers-in-law, Douglas Mercer, Duane Lauver, and Elson Brittle.

Memorials donations can be made in Raymond’s name to the Lamont United Methodist Church in Lamont.