Raymond Victor Haglund

Raymond Victor Haglund, age 85, of East Greenwich, RI, passed away, surrounded by his family, on Friday, August 29, 2008, in Caribou, ME.

Raymond, son of the late Otto A. Haglund and Florence V. (Tornwall) Haglund Berglund, was born June 11, 1923, in Worcester, MA. He began a long career with the U.S. Navy in December of 1941. During WWII, Raymond served as an aircraft mechanic in squadrons VP-84 in Iceland and VJ-15. Following WWII, Raymond returned to Worcester, MA, where he met and married Beatrice Linnea Anderson in 1947. During the early years of their 62-year marriage, Raymond was stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Virginia Beach, NAVAUX Station at Charlestown, RI and NAS Quonset Point, RI. In his 20-year military career, Raymond completed two tours of duty, travelling around the world on the U.S.S. Tarawa, and in the Mediterranean on the U.S.S. Coral Sea. For Raymond's dedication and valor, he was recognized with the Air Medal, the Navy Presidential Unit Citation, the American Defense Service Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the Korean Service Medal.

Following his military career, Raymond began a 20 year career with CFE Air Cargo of Norfolk, VA, serving as the Terminal Manager for the US Navy's QuickTrans terminals at Quonset Point and Newport, RI.

Raymond was an avid reader, and enjoyed woodworking, fishing, genealogy, conservation, and spending time with his family and friends. He was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in North Kingstown, RI and Clermont, FL, and the American Legion. He also volunteered many hours to the restoration project of the U.S.S. Saratoga in Quonset Point, RI.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Beatrice of East Greenwich, RI; his daughter and her husband, Carolyn and Raymond Hildebrand of New Sweden, ME; his daughter, Marlene Haglund-Hatch of East Greenwich, RI; his son and his wife, Karl and Gillian Haglund of Minneola, FL; his brother and his wife, Warren and JoVeda Haglund of San Jose, CA; his granddaughters Amanda Morgan and her husband Scott Morgan of New Sweden, ME, Katrina Hildebrand of Mount Kisco, NY, and Alexandra Hatch of East Greenwich, RI; and his great-grandsons, Brandon and Bryce Morgan of New Sweden, ME. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

The funeral service was held on Tuesday, September 2, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Division St., East Greenwich, RI. Burial with military honors will be held in the RI Veterans' Cemetery, Exeter. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Raymond's name to the charity of one's choice.