Raymond was born in Athol, Massachusetts, to Frank Joseph and Carrie (Gravelin) Simonds. While in high school he was active in sports. He graduated in 1929, attended Stockbridge Agricultural School for a year, then graduated from Fitchburg Business School. For a few years he sold insurance for Boston Mutual. On December 12, 1935 he married Elsie C. Carlson of Ashland, MA. By then he had joined the Athol Police Department. He was a patrolman until volunteering for service in the U.S. Army; he was inducted in June of 1943. He attained the rank of Sergeant with the 305th Military Escort Guard Company taking part in battles in Northern France, The Rhineland, The Ardennes, Normandy and Central Europe. Honorably discharged in November, 1945, he resumed his duties with the Athol Police Department.
He resigned the police department in 1948 to become a firefighter for the Town, a job he held until retirement in 1971. He and his wife, Elsie, operated Elray's Cabins from 1948 until 1956 when he became a Realtor operating Simonds Real Estate until retiring in 1976.
From the late 1950's Raymond had an interest in family camping. He was active in the New England Family Campers' Association and wrote "Handbook of Trailer Camping" which was published in 1970. In retirement he resumed an interest in golfing, making his first "hole in one" in August of 1992. For several years Ray and Elsie wintered in Florida. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Athol Historical Society, Swift River Historical Society, a life member of the Order of Elks (BPOE) and the Knights of Columbus.
Surviving are his wife, Elsie, daughter, Sue and several nieces and a nephew. Fiske Funeral Home was in charge of the burial; mass was held at Our Lady Immaculate Church. As the funeral procession passed the old fire station on Exchange Street, on-duty firefighters saluted alongside their fire trucks. Members of the fire department were pall bearers. A delegation from the Edward H. Phillips Post 102 American Legion was present including several past commanders. The last alarm was sounded at the end of the committal service at Silver Lake Cemetery.
He resigned the police department in 1948 to become a firefighter for the Town, a job he held until retirement in 1971. He and his wife, Elsie, operated Elray's Cabins from 1948 until 1956 when he became a Realtor operating Simonds Real Estate until retiring in 1976.
From the late 1950's Raymond had an interest in family camping. He was active in the New England Family Campers' Association and wrote "Handbook of Trailer Camping" which was published in 1970. In retirement he resumed an interest in golfing, making his first "hole in one" in August of 1992. For several years Ray and Elsie wintered in Florida. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Athol Historical Society, Swift River Historical Society, a life member of the Order of Elks (BPOE) and the Knights of Columbus.
Surviving are his wife, Elsie, daughter, Sue and several nieces and a nephew. Fiske Funeral Home was in charge of the burial; mass was held at Our Lady Immaculate Church. As the funeral procession passed the old fire station on Exchange Street, on-duty firefighters saluted alongside their fire trucks. Members of the fire department were pall bearers. A delegation from the Edward H. Phillips Post 102 American Legion was present including several past commanders. The last alarm was sounded at the end of the committal service at Silver Lake Cemetery.
Raymond was born in Athol, Massachusetts, to Frank Joseph and Carrie (Gravelin) Simonds. While in high school he was active in sports. He graduated in 1929, attended Stockbridge Agricultural School for a year, then graduated from Fitchburg Business School. For a few years he sold insurance for Boston Mutual. On December 12, 1935 he married Elsie C. Carlson of Ashland, MA. By then he had joined the Athol Police Department. He was a patrolman until volunteering for service in the U.S. Army; he was inducted in June of 1943. He attained the rank of Sergeant with the 305th Military Escort Guard Company taking part in battles in Northern France, The Rhineland, The Ardennes, Normandy and Central Europe. Honorably discharged in November, 1945, he resumed his duties with the Athol Police Department.
He resigned the police department in 1948 to become a firefighter for the Town, a job he held until retirement in 1971. He and his wife, Elsie, operated Elray's Cabins from 1948 until 1956 when he became a Realtor operating Simonds Real Estate until retiring in 1976.
From the late 1950's Raymond had an interest in family camping. He was active in the New England Family Campers' Association and wrote "Handbook of Trailer Camping" which was published in 1970. In retirement he resumed an interest in golfing, making his first "hole in one" in August of 1992. For several years Ray and Elsie wintered in Florida. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Athol Historical Society, Swift River Historical Society, a life member of the Order of Elks (BPOE) and the Knights of Columbus.
Surviving are his wife, Elsie, daughter, Sue and several nieces and a nephew. Fiske Funeral Home was in charge of the burial; mass was held at Our Lady Immaculate Church. As the funeral procession passed the old fire station on Exchange Street, on-duty firefighters saluted alongside their fire trucks. Members of the fire department were pall bearers. A delegation from the Edward H. Phillips Post 102 American Legion was present including several past commanders. The last alarm was sounded at the end of the committal service at Silver Lake Cemetery.
He resigned the police department in 1948 to become a firefighter for the Town, a job he held until retirement in 1971. He and his wife, Elsie, operated Elray's Cabins from 1948 until 1956 when he became a Realtor operating Simonds Real Estate until retiring in 1976.
From the late 1950's Raymond had an interest in family camping. He was active in the New England Family Campers' Association and wrote "Handbook of Trailer Camping" which was published in 1970. In retirement he resumed an interest in golfing, making his first "hole in one" in August of 1992. For several years Ray and Elsie wintered in Florida. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Athol Historical Society, Swift River Historical Society, a life member of the Order of Elks (BPOE) and the Knights of Columbus.
Surviving are his wife, Elsie, daughter, Sue and several nieces and a nephew. Fiske Funeral Home was in charge of the burial; mass was held at Our Lady Immaculate Church. As the funeral procession passed the old fire station on Exchange Street, on-duty firefighters saluted alongside their fire trucks. Members of the fire department were pall bearers. A delegation from the Edward H. Phillips Post 102 American Legion was present including several past commanders. The last alarm was sounded at the end of the committal service at Silver Lake Cemetery.
Inscription
Simonds
