Frederick Ernest "Fred" Raber

Frederick "Fred" Ernest Raber passed away at his home in Wake Forest, North Carolina, on March 17, 2025, following several months of declining health. He was 91 years old.
Born into a coal mining family in Hopedale, Ohio, Fred carried the values of hard work and resilience throughout his life. After enlisting in the U.S. Army, he served with distinction as a radar repairman, supporting the Distant Early Warning Line in Alaska and monitoring missile test flights in White Sands, New Mexico. Upon completing his military service, Fred earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in electrical engineering from West Virginia University in Morgantown, where he also met his beloved wife, Donna.
Fred played a pioneering role in the early days of the computer age, working as an engineer for IBM in Rochester, Minnesota, and later in Raleigh, North Carolina, until his retirement in 1993. His dedication to service extended beyond his professional life. Fred was a member of the Freemasons and the Shriners International, proudly exemplifying the values of fellowship, charity, and community service. He also served his faith community as a member and later employee of North Raleigh United Methodist Church, where he worked faithfully until retiring again in 2014.
Fred is survived by his devoted wife, Donna, of Wake Forest; daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Tony Cortés of Florida; sister-in-law Jennifer McCormick of Morgantown; and brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece-Rick, Angie, and Hannah Steele, also of Morgantown. He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Fran Raber, of Logan, Utah.
Fred will be laid to rest at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Morgantown, West Virginia, on March 24, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Fred by offering prayers for him and for all who have gone before him into the Kingdom of the Lord.
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2 To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Frederick, please visit our Tree Store.