Raymond Lundy Whittle

On January 6, days shy of his 92nd birthday, Ray chose to pass quietly and without fuss, just as he chose to live his life. 

Although a quiet man, Ray was not without his interests. He had a gift for numbers, and this gift often manifested itself in frequent calls to celebrate your 1/4, 1/2 or even 1/8 birthdays!  Ray loved animals; in particular, dogs. His dogs Cindy, Boots, Button, and Sandy were the luckiest dogs around. When they crawled onto Ray’s knee for a nap, he would not get up until they stirred. And sports!  Baseball, tennis, curling and golf topped his list, both as a player and spectator. Right until the end, even as his memory faltered, he could tell you about his hole-in-one (Clear Lake Golf Course, Third Hole, it was a par three!).  

His longest love was his wife, Marilyn. When he lost her in 2023, after 61 years of marriage, Dad lost his sense of purpose and his rudder. We knew that it wouldn’t be long until he joined her. 

Ray was predeceased by his brother, and best friend, Dave (Janette).  He is survived by his daughters Lisa (Kevin) and Melanie (Paul), granddaughter Anna (Benjamin), sister Joan (Steve), sister-in-law Marsha (Errol) and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Sadly, Ray passed while he was waiting for his first great granddaughter to be born. As she is due in a couple of weeks, Ray’s service will be held at a later date, when babe and family are able to travel. 

Lisa and Melanie would like to thank the friends, family and carers who helped Dad during his last few years. These were challenging years, and your respectful assistance helped Dad maintain his independence and dignity. We are grateful for your generous spirits.