Raymond J. DeWire Sr.

Raymond J. DeWire Sr., 88, of West Rowe Street, Tamaqua, passed away Friday at St. Luke's Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale, surrounded by his family.

Born Oct. 24, 1926, in Tamaqua, he was a son of the late Raymond F. and Margaret Deitrich DeWire.

He was the widower of Louise A. Coccio DeWire, who passed away April 25, 2014.

Raymond was a 1944 graduate of St. Jerome High School, Tamaqua.

He served honorably in the Army during World War II. Upon returning home, Raymond went to work at the former Atlas Powder Co., Reynolds, retiring in 1989 after 42 years.

Raymond was a member of St. John XXIII Roman Catholic Church, Tamaqua.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by brothers, Donald "Ace" DeWire and Charles DeWire.

Raymond is survived by a son, Raymond J. "Bud" DeWire Jr. and his wife, Nadine, Tamaqua; a daughter, Louann D. Christopher, wife of John Jr., Ormond Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, who referred to him as Pap, Raymond Dean DeWire and his wife, Brittany, Emily Christopher, April Christopher, Dane DeWire, John Christopher III and Deana Rae DeWire and Karley Hine; great-grandchildren, Blythe, Davin and Kameron.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John XXIII Roman Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment with military honors will follow the Mass in St. Jerome Cemetery, Tamaqua. Memorials in his name may be made to the church at 266 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, PA 18252. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 655 E. Broad St., Tamaqua.

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