Raymond J. Patnode Jr.

Raymond J. Patnode, Jr., 81, of Northbridge and DeBary, FL, died on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, in Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, Orange City, FL, after a long illness.

He leaves his wife of 7 years, Sylvia D. (Girardin) Vallee Ray Patnode; 4 children: Sandra J. Tauson and Nancy G. Rice, both of Northbridge, Gary R. Patnode of Rangeley, ME, and Karen I Patnode of Falmouth; 6 stepchildren: Leopaul J. Vallee, Jr., Jeanine L. Lemay and Diana J. Shea, all of Dudley, Lisa M. Haynes of Oxford, and Paul G. Vallee and Nadine M. DiLeo, both of Webster; 8 grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 2 step-great-grandchildren; 2 brothers: Milton Patnode of Whitinsville and Thomas Patnode of Northbridge; 2 sisters: Joyce Jacobs of Linwood and Theresa LeQuesne in Arizona; nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his first wife, Lorraine R. (Christian) Patnode, to whom he was married for 51 years, a brother Robert Patnode who died in California, a sister, Shirley Patnode of Northbridge, and a stepdaughter, Donna (Vallee) Vincent of Webster.

Mr. Patnode was born in West Warwick, RI, on July 26, 1926, a son of the late Raymond J. and Mildred (Blair) Patnode, and lived in Northbridge for most of his life. He attended Worcester Boys Trade High School. A U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, he served aboard the USS CONCORD (CL-10) in the Pacific and participated in the bombardments of the Kurile Islands and in actions against Japanese convoys off northern Japan. He earned the American Defense Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 Battle Star, and the Victory Medal.

Mr. Patnode was a carpenter, home builder and contractor who owned and operated the Ray Patnode Construction Co. for 27 years, He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Parish, Oliver Ashton Post #343, American Legion, the USS CONCORD Minute Men Assn. and the Light Cruiser Veterans Assn. He enjoyed wintering in Florida, flea markets, yard sales and woodworking.

His funeral will be Wednesday, May 28, from Turgeon Funeral Home, 80 School St., with a Funeral Mass at 10 AM in St. Peter's Catholic Church, 39 Church Ave. Burial will be in the VA National Cemetery of Massachusetts, Bourne. A visiting hour at the funeral home will be Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 AM. The family requests that flowers be omitted.