Raymond Bartholomew

Raymond

Bartholomew

AGE: 64 • Bear

Raymond Bartholomew, age 64, of Bear, Delaware, was lifted by the arms of Jesus on August 18, 2015. He was surrounded by family and friends at the Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, Newark, Delaware.

Ray was born in 1950 in Albany, New York. He spent much of his life in foster care, and was with the Martin and Emma Bozak family for his formative years. He credited them for introducing him to his firm faith in God. During his senior year in high school he became involved with The Salvation Army in Cohoes, New York, under the direction of then Captains David and Jean Dlugose. He was inspired by their passion to serve others and to share God's love with the world, and Ray entered the School for Officers Training in the Bronx in 1969. During his second year at the school, Ray met his future wife, Ruth Ann Aston of Williamsport, Pa. They were married in 1972. They served together in several Salvation Army commands in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, before their retirement in 2014.

Ray was active in every community in which he served, not only supervising Salvation Army operations, but also participating in ministeriums, working with United Way, and serving through Kiwanis, Jaycees, and Rotary Clubs, holding both local, district, and state positions. In Delaware he was also on the state VOAD committee, spending hours in the state bunker, preparing for disaster service. He and Ruth assisted with disaster service in Delaware following flooding in 2008. He traveled to Florida several times, sometimes accompanied by Ruth, for post hurricane disaster service, and in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. He and Ruth also served at Ground Zero in New York City following the attacks of September, 2001. Ray's faith in God, his love for people, and his dedication to Salvation Army service have been an inspiration to his family and friends, particularly because he struggled with degenerative arthritis for 20 years. He never let the pain stop him from doing the work he felt called to do.

His greatest delight was in his family: wife Ruth; sons James, of Parkville, Maryland; Johnathan (Nikki) of Milton, PA; and daughter Summer (Rob) Weber of Baltimore, Maryland; 10 grandchildren, Issac Bartholomew, Rena and Vincent Reichart, Ava and Andrew Bartholomew, Emily and Jonah Harrison, and Ashlyn, Andrew, and Faith Caerwyn Weber; and daughter of the heart, Jillian Barnett.

Service will be held on Monday, August 24, 2015 at CHANDLER FUNERAL HOME, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 19803, with calling hours from 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. The Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. with Major Timothy Higgins officiating and Commissioner Todd Bassett speaking. Burial will take place in the Salvation Army section of Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York on Saturday, August 29, at 1:00 p.m., with Major James Kisser officiating.

In lieu of flowers donations are encouraged for the Rotary TOUCH (Touch One Unique Child's Life) project for foster children in Delaware. Checks may be made out to Rotary Foundation, memo line: Major Ray. Mail to Christiana Rotary foundation, c/o Christiana Hilton Inn, 100 Continental Drive, Newark, Delaware 19713.

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