Raymond Felix Julius Ortler

Raymond Felix Julius Ortler, age 89, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2025, at D'Youville Senior Care, Lowell, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of the late Barbara J. (Orth) Ortler whom he married on May 26, 1962, in Bristol, CT.
He was born in Uptown Manhattan, NY on June 21, 1936, and was the son of the late Edmund, Jr, and Gertrude Liesbeth (Kohler) Ortler.
Raymond spent most of his childhood on Long Island in Lindenhurst, NY. He attended Lindenhurst High School where he was president of the Honor Society, vice president of his class, and excelled at track and wrestling. While he was offered wrestling scholarships from two colleges in 1954, he decided to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology instead. He graduated in 1958 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. From 1958-1960 he worked at the MIT Naval Supersonic Laboratory doing research. Shortly thereafter, he spent a brief time studying Koine Greek with Wycliffe Bible Translators, with hopes of translating the Greek New Testament into Native American languages. He also spent one year at Gordon Divinity School where he met his wife Barbara in 1961. Later, in 1968, he earned a masters degree in electrical engineering at Northeastern University.
During his career, Ray had the privilege to work on the Apollo 11 lunar module. He worked on the analysis to design the graduated scale marked on the lunar module windshield, used by the astronauts to estimate the altitude during the landing on the moon in 1969. However, he spent most of his career at Raytheon Corporation, working on the development of the Patriot Missile System, often traveling to White Sands NM for missile testing and to other classified locations.
Ray was a longtime member of the Carlisle Congregational Church where he was for a time the treasurer of the Missions Committee.
From a very young age, Ray developed an intense lifelong interest in WWII, originating from personal wartime experiences living on Long Island as a
child of German immigrants with relatives in both the US and Germany. In his younger adult years, he enjoyed skiing, yacht sailing, camping, and hiking in the White Mountains. In his later years, his interests leaned toward reading nonfiction, watching movies, going out to eat with his wife, and investing in and studying the stock market.
Raymond's financial savvy benefited many of his friends and family. He was very generous with his money by helping others with school tuition or contributing to Christian ministries. He will be fondly remembered for his passion for civil rights. During the time that individuals were excluded from public pools, he invited local city kids to come swim in his pool with his family, always loving people for who they were regardless of their skin color. He is remembered by his family for always being supportive and never offering a critical word. His family is very appreciative of the superb care he received at D'Youville Senior Care. His family also wishes to thank the team from Tufts Hospice Care for being with them every step of the way during his final months and days. His family is truly thankful.
Raymond was able to achieve his life goal as written in his high school yearbook which was "to live a happy, contented life."
Raymond leaves his daughter Susan Anganes and her husband Alan of Dracut, his daughter Linda Crompton and her husband David of Lowell, his grandchildren Cassandra Van Der Hyde and her husband Mark, Andrew Anganes and his wife Amanda, Charles Anganes and his wife Rebekah, Anastasia Chung and her husband Jeffrey, Raymond Anganes, Theodore Anganes, Paul Crompton, Bryan Crompton, Emily Wiebe and her husband Devan, Caroline Crompton, Lisbeth Crompton, Ketie Crompton, and Ketia Crompton. He is also survived by his great grandchildren Amelia, Elias, and Ari Van Der Hyde, Layne Anganes, Levi and Elliot Chung, and Abigail, Mitchell, Dylan and Kestrel Wiebe.
He was predeceased by his wife Barbara J. (Orth) Ortler, and his brother Edmund Ortler and his wife Gertrude.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 11:00am at Carlisle Congregational Church, 147 School Street, Carlisle MA.