Raymond Saunders

1926 - 2021

Raymond "Ray" D. Saunders, 95, of 200 Saint Francis Drive, formerly of Jackson Avenue, Bradford, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday (April 13, 2021) after a very brief illness.
Born in Altus, Okla., on Feb. 14, 1926, he was the son of the late Leonard and Vera Cude Saunders. He graduated from high school in Altus, in May 1924 and in that same month, was inducted into the United States Army at Fort Riley, Kansas. After basic training he crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the Queen Mary, along with 45,000 other GIs. After serving as a soldier in the European Theatre in World War II, Ray returned to Oklahoma and married Mary Jo Long Saunders, who died on Aug. 5, 2020, after 73 years of marriage.
Ray began his working career in 1947, as a time-study clerk at a Witco-owned plant in Sunray, Texas. His work then took him and his family across the U.S. and Europe, including The Hague, Holland, London, England, Brussels, Belgium and New York City. Witco purchased the Kendall Oil refinery in 1967 and Ray and his family moved to Bradford in 1971. Thereafter, having located near Witco's home office in Manhattan, N.Y., Ray retired in 1991, as the executive vice president and as a member of the board of directors of the Witco Corporation.
Even after moving to Manhattan, Ray and Mary Jo considered Bradford as their home and they maintained their residence in Bradford until their passing. In their retirement, they wintered 20 years at the Heathrow Country Club in Florida. Ray was always an avid golfer and member of the Heathrow Country Club and the Pennhills Country Club.
Ray served as a member of the board of directors of the American Petroleum Institute; director and executive committee member of the board of directors of the National Petroleum Refiners Association; member of the board of directors for Belden and Blake Oil Corporation; director and executive committee member for the PennGrade Oil Association; a board director for RDI Chemicals SA, in Paris, France.
Ray was a Quarter Century Club member of the American Petroleum Institute and the Kendall/ARG Quarter Century Club. He served as chairman of the Bradford Hospital Board of Directors, president of the Bradford Club, and he was a member of the Young Presidents Organization – European Chapter. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Surviving are three children, Bob (Duane) Saunders of Bradford, Sue Saunders of Winter Park, Fla., and Bart (Lisa) Saunders of Orlando, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Ryan (KC) Saunders, Blake Saunders, Cherilyn "Cece" (Kent) Williams, Clark Eyers, Alexis Saunders, Haley Saunders, and Sydney Saunders; five great-grandchildren, Jocelyn Williams, Catherine Williams, Tilmon Williams, Petra Saunders, and Naomi Saunders; one sister, Jane Stroup of Glenn Heights, Texas; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Kenneth Saunders.
Private funeral services, at the convenience of the family, will be held at the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. with the Rev. Rob Klouw, co-pastor of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Full Military Honors will be accorded by members of the United States Army and members of the Honor Guard from the American Legion Post 108 of Bradford and Entombment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions if desired, may be made to the Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center, Journey Health Systems – Children's Home of Bradford, Bradford Hospital Foundation, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com