Ray Walter

Ray Walter, 72, formerly of Athens, Pa., of Orleans, Mass., and Boynton Beach, Fla., passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Aug. 6, 2010 at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Mass.

He was born in Sayre, Pa., on Oct. 20, 1937 to the late Harry and Mary Zink Walter.

Ray graduated from Athens High School in 1955. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and after his honorable discharge was employed by the Ingersoll-Rand Corporation in Athens. In 1967, he began his employment with IBM in Owego, N.Y. as a machine operator. He advanced through the company attaining several positions and at the time of his retirement in 1992 was a Senior Manufacturing Methods Specialist at the Boca Raton, Fla. facility. A collector and antique enthusiast, Ray turned a hobby into a part-time business by attending auctioneering school, becoming a licensed auctioneer and held auctions in the Athens/Sayre area in the years prior to his relocation to Florida. He had a passion for sports trading cards and sports paraphernalia and after his retirement participated in trading card shows both in Florida and Massachusetts. He especially enjoyed fishing on Cape Cod with his sons, grandchildren, and friends. Ray will be missed very much by all of his family, who will always remember and cherish his love, strong guidance, and sound advice.

He is predeceased by his sister Jane Walter Barbier.

Ray is survived by his wife of 16 years Dorothy "Dolly" at home, sons and their wives Jeffrey Walter and Loreice Jernigan of Wake Forest, N.C., Gregory Walter and Cheryl Wood-Walter of Athens, Pa., and Jeremy and Christine Walter of Jupiter, Fla., step-daughter DaleAnn Viprino of Brewster, Mass., brother Jack (Marge) Walter of Athens, Pa., and sister Nan Walter (William) Crawford of Omaha, Neb., grandchildren Alex, Michael, and Lauren Walter of Athens, Pa., James and Catherine Walter of Jupiter, Fla., Joshua (Julie) Kuehn of Yarmouth, Mass., Barry (Meredith) Viprino of Brewster, Mass.; great-grandchildren Zoey Kuehn of Yarmouth, Mass., Dahlia, Gregory and Imogen Viprino of Brewster, Mass.; and several nieces, and nephews.

Friends and family may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12 at the Jay E. Lowery Funeral Home, Inc., 225 South Main Street, Athens, Pa. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 13, 2010 at the funeral home with the Rev. Linda Rogers officiating.

Burial will be in Bradford County Memorial Park in Luther Mills, Pa.

At the request of the family in lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be made in his memory to: Spaulding Memorial Library, 724 S. Main Street, Athens, PA 18810.

For those unable to attend the services and are wishing to sign the E-guestbook, or send condolences may do so by visiting www.loweryfuneralhome.com.