Raymond L. Sizemore

Raymond Lewis Sizemore, 91 Raymond Lewis Sizemore, 91 of Ashland joined his beloved wife Jeanne on March 7, 2020. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willis G. and Amanda Sizemore, his brother Bob Sizemore, and sister Thell Wilcox. After the death of his Mother and Father at age 10, Ray, along with his brother Bob and sister Jeanne were raised in the Odd Fellows Home, Springfield Ohio until 1944. Ray graduated from Springfield High School in 1944. During WW II Ray received a Commission from the Armored Officer’s Candidate School in Ft. Knox Kentucky and subsequently served in the Engineering Aviation Battalion in Japan. After discharge from the U.S. Army in 1946, he married his wife Jeanne (Weigand) in 1947. Ray and Jeanne moved to Oxford, Ohio where he attended Miami University for one year. Ray completed his education at Purdue University with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1951. Ray started his professional career with the Ohio State Highway Department, “Location and Design Office”, Middletown, Ohio, followed by the General Electric Company Jet Engine Division, designing and building jet engine testing facilities. In 1961 he moved to Norwalk, Ohio to work for the NASA in Sandusky, Ohio and later the NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland. Ray worked in the design and construction of rocket engine testing facilities and later in operations planning for the International Space Station. Ray was literally a “Rocket Scientist”! He retired from NASA in 1991. Ray was a former member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Norwalk where he served on the session, building committee, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday school. He served on the Norwalk Library and School Boards. He was a member of the Lake Erie Chapter of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, and an active member of the Norwalk Odd Fellows Lodge. Ray and Jeanne moved to Ashland, Ohio in 2013 to be closer to his daughter Donna. He attended church at the Ray & Joan Kroc Center, Salvation Army in Ashland. Ray was an avid golfer, skier, and had a lifelong love of music and reading. Ray played the piano and passed on this love to his daughter, and great grandchildren. He strongly believed in family traditions; he started an annual trip to Michigan for fishing, swimming, golfing, and family time; this continues today with the fourth generation of family making the yearly trip. Ray and Jeanne also took a yearly ski trip to Mt. Tremblant in Quebec, Canada. Corey has been extremely close to, and a huge help to her Grandfather Ray in the last few years. She made his last few years better in ways that only she could. Ray is survived by his sister Jean Sizemore of Thorton, Colorado, daughter Donna Hills and son-in-law, Norman of Ashland, his son Ray Jr Sizemore and daughter-in-law Vicki of Medina. Grandchildren Stefanie Robinson (Jon) of Medina, Corey Molinatto (Kevin) of Ashland, and Ray Sizemore III (Teri) of Norwalk; four great grandchildren, Kira, Anthony, Jacob and Piper, nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday March15th at the Ray & Joan Kroc Center, 527 E Liberty St. Ashland Ohio and will begin at 11:30 AM. The service will be officiated by Major William Francis followed by a reception in the Community Room. Burial will be private. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Ray & Joan Kroc Center in Ashland or the charity of your choice. For those who may not be able to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.