Raymond Ahlert

Raymond Ahlert, 90, of Fort Smith, AR passed from this life on February 12, 2024. Raymond was born December 23, 1933 in Prairie View, AR to Joseph and Rose Ahlert. On October 29, 1966 he married Wilma Wewers.
Preceding Raymond in death are his parents, Joseph and Rose Ahlert, his sister Betty Hoover, and brother Jerry Ahlert and baby brother Eugene Ahlert.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 57 years, Wilma Ahlert, children Julie Ahlert, Kevin Ahlert, and Jennifer (Michael) Owens, grandchildren Everett Owens and Parker Owens, and sisters Rosemary Lelemsis and Virginia Georgie.
Raymond joined the US Navy in December 1955 with training camp in San Diego, CA. He was assigned at Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Oahu, Hawaii in Fleet Aircraft Squadron 117. He departed the Navy in August 1957 and was eager to return home to family.
Ray was co-owner and Vice President of Petit Jean Lumber Company, started by his father. Like his dad, he took great pride in the company and learning the industry. He still received and was an avid reader of industry news in the various periodicals mailed monthly.
Ray was sometimes a man of few words and other times a man of many words. He enjoyed recounting stories to his family. His family especially loved hearing his adventures from his youth when he traveled the country with his father Joe to source suppliers of quality wood. His travels took him from coast to coast; he saw everything from Washington to Southern California and all the way to northeast points before he was 20.
He loved to know how things worked, likely the reason Kevin is a meticulous engineer! He had an intelligent and insatiable curiosity for learning new things. He was an amazing encyclopedia on so many things but especially anything related to the lumber industry, geography and everything related to this part of the country. Often when one of his kids brought up a matter, Ray was quick to research as much as possible online, resolve the question and send it to them.
Ray loved his email and spending time on the computer. He loved sending jokes and other humorous things to family and friends through email and text. He was especially good at finding and sending super old family pictures that made us all reminisce! One of his very favorite things was finding quotes or pictures to send to his grandson Everett whom he loved so dearly.
What Ray valued most in life were his Faith and his Family. He was silent but strong in his Faith; he was eager to pray the daily family rosary (even on family car trips!) and often watched Mass on TV. Ray was a committed husband who always put family first. Ray cherished and prioritized his loving wife Wilma, seldom apart in their 57 years together. Ray was a loving and tender father who led by example. He will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 5:30pm-6:30pm with Rosary to follow at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel.
The family welcomes all to join them at the Burial Service on Friday, February 16, 2024 at 10:00 am at Fort Smith National Cemetery.
The Memorial Mass will follow at 11:00 am at Christ the King Catholic Church.
Pallbearers will be Steve Hotz, Mark Ahlert, Tom Ahlert, Brian Georgie and Brad Lelemsis.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Subiaco Abbey, 405 N Subiaco Ave, Subiaco, AR 72865 or a charity of your choice.