Center, Sun City, AZ, on Saturday, April 27, at age 97.
“Raff”, as Willard was known, married the love of his life July 2 1949. Madeline Ruth (Colborn) and
he together raised 4 kids in Bethel CT, and later on Lake Candlewood in Brookfield CT in the 1950s –
1980s. That nearly 70 year marriage union now includes 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren.
Raff and Maddy enjoyed family, squaredancing, boating (more Dad than Mom); then bus tours, cruises,
and visits to England and France after the kids were all grown. They relished their retirement years in
Sun City, AZ from 1981 to the present.
In his young teen years, Raff built the first kayak on the Youghiogheny River, the first telephone system
in his hometown of Ohiopyle, PA, and ran Rafferty Limited Production Company. Raff then willingly
completed an expedited Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering in only 3 years at then Carnegie
Tech (now Carnegie-Mellon University), so that he could move in autumn 1942 into accelerated Army
Signal Corps Officer training due to WW II. Serving honorably in Europe during WWII, Raff was
instrumental in more than his rank of Captain would suggest, enabling critical communications
between Commanders, including close service with General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Patton
as part of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces.
Raff continued his service to country after WWII victory, as a Reserve Officer in the US Army, retiring
as a full Colonel, USAR, after 38 years, in 1981. But his post-war civilian life also included many
years working in the private sector as an Engineer in key Project Management of then-secret Military
and NASA programs which protected our world & country during the “Cold War” with highly
sophisticated spy satellites. This service to country also involved senior management of his company’s
NASA contracts for the development & manufacturing of critical manned space program components,
including the manned earth-orbit and lunar landings, plus the key optical components of the famous
Hubble Space Telescope.
Raff is lovingly remembered as quiet, wise, hard-working, a do-it-yourselfer, and a very generous man.
In later life he remained involved in learning highly successful investment strategies, cutting-edge
technologies, and authored 2 books.
Willard is survived by his wife, Madeline; their children Scott (& Paula), Dianna (& Rob Veneziano),
Woody (& Sharon), and Richard (& Doreen); brother-in-law Edison Jordan; grandchildren Seth
Rafferty, Leah (& Ethan) Kallberg, Adam Veneziano, Laura Veneziano, Jessica (& Jeff) Poirier, Christy
(& Karl) Loukes, Jason Rafferty, & William Rafferty; special nieces & nephews; and greatly beloved
friends in Sun City and around the world. He was predeceased by his parents William and Estella; by
his sisters Eunice (& Clyde) Moore, Ruth (& Reginald) Reagan, Lois (& Dawson) Lemley; sisters-inlaw
Bet (& Glen) Glotfelty, Ann Jordan, Martha (& Bill) Colborn; daughter-in law Brenda (Blanchard)
Rafferty; beloved nieces & nephews; and many more dear friends.
The family would like to thank “Raff’s” medical professionals, and Bayada Home Health Care
Services, with special thanks to the unfailingly skilled and caring staff at Sun Valley Lodge.
Calling hours begin Friday May 3 at 9 AM, with service following at 10 AM, followed by Military
Honors & burial at 11 AM at Sunland Memorial Park, 15826 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ. Memorial
Service will be Saturday May 4 at Sun Valley Lodge Chapel, 12415 103rd Ave., Sun City, AZ at 9:30
AM. Son Scott Rafferty will lead, assisted by Pastor Stan Hughes, Grace Bible Church of Sun City,
AZ. Family requests that if you wish, donations be considered in lieu of flowers to: Habitat For
Humanity, Sun Valley Lodge, or Sun Valley Lodge Resident Holiday Fund.
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