Raymond Raper

Raymond Eugene Raper, 69, of Belle Center, Ohio, passed away at his residence on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. He was born to the late William and Willie (Baker) Raper on May 31, 1940, in Buckeye, Arizona.

On May 21, 1982, he married Vickie (Jacobs) Raper in Mesa, Arizona, and she survives. Also surviving is a son, Jason Jacobs of DeGraff, Ohio; three daughters, Donna (Tony) Cain of Idaho, Cathy Zolman of Texas, and Tiouna (Eric) Neeley of Belle Center; a brother, Bob Raper of California, five sisters, Thelma Groudos, Edith Kitchen and Mary Weaver all of California, Betty Gonzales of Colorado and Jeanne (Paul) Puckett of Kansas; brothers-in-law, Rick (Tina) Jacobs of Huntsville, Ohio, Mike (Valeri) Jacobs of Batesville, Indiana, Don Jacobs of Lakeview, Ohio, and Frank (Jennifer) Jacobs of Bellefontaine, Ohio; twelve grandchildren and ten great grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Carolyn Smith of Belle Center, and his father-in-law, Frank, (Joan) Jacobs of Frostproof, Florida. He was preceded in death by a son and a great granddaughter.

Ray retired after twenty eight years with the United States Postal Service. He worked twelve years for Jacobs Motors in Bellefontaine and was a co-owner of the K & K Dairy Corner in Belle Center. He enjoyed NASCAR and was the “perfect husband.”

Micah Palmer, of Christ Our King Church, will conduct the graveside service at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, June 5, 2009, at the Huntsville Cemetery in Huntsville, Ohio.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Ray Raper Memorial Scholarship 101 Buckeye Street Belle Center, Ohio 43310.

Online condolences to the family may be expressed at www.eichholtzfuneralhome.com

---