Raymond A. Villard

1929 - 2014

Longtime Anchorage, Alaska, resident Raymond Albert Villard, 85, passed away at home in Anchorage on Nov. 5, 2014. Ray was born March 16, 1929, in Springfield, Mass. Ray enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and was immediately stationed in Germany. Soon after his arrival in Germany, he met and married his wife Sue. Ray worked as a radio specialist. He was stationed at two posts in Germany, a duty station in Libya and at Aviano Air Base in Italy. At one point, Ray was sent for a year to the American Embassy in Iran, where he worked with the highest security clearance. Ray and Sue then returned to the states where he was stationed initially at Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah, Ga. Ray became an electronics instructor and taught at Keesler AFB in Mississippi and at Altus AFB in Oklahoma, before being transferred to Elmendorf AFB in Alaska, in 1968. After nearly 25 years in the USAF, Ray retired in 1974, having attained the rank of Senior master sergeant and several commendations. After the service, Ray and Sue started a small business called Ray's Pro Shop, which operated successfully in Anchorage for over forty years as the premier bowling pro shop in town. Ray was an accomplished bowler and was once featured on the cover of the Southern Bowler magazine. Ray and Sue raised two children in Anchorage. In the 1990s they added Rayville Sports Marketing to their business, specializing in sports gear, screen printing and trophies. Ray was particularly proud of doing the Aces hockey team's jerseys for years. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Olive Forgette. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sue; children, Raymond Jr. and Michelle Meyer; and son-in-law, Al; and step-daughter, Lilly Wurzinger; grandchildren, Lily, AJ, Olivia and Christian Meyer, and Johnathan, Amy, Reilly and Jaron Villard; as well as Suzie and Jasmine Wurzinger; and one newborn great-granddaughter. A visitation will be held at Janssen's Evergreen Memorial chapel, located at 737 E Street in Anchorage on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, at 12 p.m., with a service to follow at 1 p.m. Raymond will then be laid to rest at Fort Richardson National Cemetery with full military honors at 2:30 p.m. A celebration of life will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the home of Al and Michelle Meyer. Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel.