Obituary for Raymond "Ray" Stein
Raymond “Ray” Stein, age 87 of Hartfield, a handsome, Godly, loving family man and veteran, gained eternal life surrounded by family on Friday, May 27, 2022. Raymond lived a life worth living and had a passion for opportunity; he left an impression on everyone he met.
He served both in the Army and Naval Reserves, taught building construction in Henrico County Schools for over ten years and spent a huge portion of his life in what is now Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, formerly Newport News Shipbuilding, where he was an Apprentice School graduate and later honored for his remarkable money-saving inventions during his tenure. Raymond was a respected leader, a talented architect and artist and a masterful contractor who has left his mark on many homes in the area including his own which he crafted by hand from the ground up and never tired of maintaining.
He spent his life serving God, reading his bible, questioning theology and serving as a man of virtue. One of his greatest accomplishments was being Dad and Pop to his loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed gifting his artwork and homemade fig preserves to family and friends. Second only to his service to Christ, he spent sixty-two years serving and cherishing his loving wife Raymel, building a life together and traveling the world.
Raymond was fond of blue grass music, old hymns and even polka dancing. He loved spending quality time with his children and grandchildren and was intensely proud of their personal and professional accomplishments. Ray loved to learn and enjoyed challenging others to grow and learn in the same way. He will forever be remembered for his love of a strong cup of coffee and a donut or danish.
Ray leaves behind his truest friend and companion, his wife Raymel to carry on his legacy and honor his life until they are united again in Christ. He will be greatly missed by his dear friends and family, especially his children, Mitzie and Allan; beloved daughter in law, Shirley; grandchildren, Braden Miller, Kaytlyn Schleef, her husband Ryan and their daughter Kara Raye, Brennen Miller, Ashland Burch, her husband Patrick and their children Jackson and Liliana, as well as Kallie Roberts her husband Ryan and their daughter Caroline. He also leaves behind a very dear friend who he thought of as his own son, Randy and his wife Linda, a host of other nieces, nephews, his Petsworth Church family, neighbors, and friends.
“When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart, then I shall bow, in humble adoration, and then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art.”
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the wonderful team of Riverside Hospice, our local rescue squad and the nurses of Riverside Walter Reed Emergency Department and Medical-Surgical units for the incredible compassion and dignity shown to our family in this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to Folds of Honor, Department #13, Tulsa, OK 74182 or the Cryer Center, PO BOX 85, Locust Hill, VA 23092.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022 at Faulkner Funeral Homes. Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until the service time on Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Lower United Methodist Church Cemetery, Hartfield, VA.
He served both in the Army and Naval Reserves, taught building construction in Henrico County Schools for over ten years and spent a huge portion of his life in what is now Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, formerly Newport News Shipbuilding, where he was an Apprentice School graduate and later honored for his remarkable money-saving inventions during his tenure. Raymond was a respected leader, a talented architect and artist and a masterful contractor who has left his mark on many homes in the area including his own which he crafted by hand from the ground up and never tired of maintaining.
He spent his life serving God, reading his bible, questioning theology and serving as a man of virtue. One of his greatest accomplishments was being Dad and Pop to his loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed gifting his artwork and homemade fig preserves to family and friends. Second only to his service to Christ, he spent sixty-two years serving and cherishing his loving wife Raymel, building a life together and traveling the world.
Raymond was fond of blue grass music, old hymns and even polka dancing. He loved spending quality time with his children and grandchildren and was intensely proud of their personal and professional accomplishments. Ray loved to learn and enjoyed challenging others to grow and learn in the same way. He will forever be remembered for his love of a strong cup of coffee and a donut or danish.
Ray leaves behind his truest friend and companion, his wife Raymel to carry on his legacy and honor his life until they are united again in Christ. He will be greatly missed by his dear friends and family, especially his children, Mitzie and Allan; beloved daughter in law, Shirley; grandchildren, Braden Miller, Kaytlyn Schleef, her husband Ryan and their daughter Kara Raye, Brennen Miller, Ashland Burch, her husband Patrick and their children Jackson and Liliana, as well as Kallie Roberts her husband Ryan and their daughter Caroline. He also leaves behind a very dear friend who he thought of as his own son, Randy and his wife Linda, a host of other nieces, nephews, his Petsworth Church family, neighbors, and friends.
“When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart, then I shall bow, in humble adoration, and then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art.”
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the wonderful team of Riverside Hospice, our local rescue squad and the nurses of Riverside Walter Reed Emergency Department and Medical-Surgical units for the incredible compassion and dignity shown to our family in this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to Folds of Honor, Department #13, Tulsa, OK 74182 or the Cryer Center, PO BOX 85, Locust Hill, VA 23092.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022 at Faulkner Funeral Homes. Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until the service time on Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Lower United Methodist Church Cemetery, Hartfield, VA.