Phil H. Raymond

RAYMOND, Phillip Hendry (Phil), died August 1, 2013 in Halifax. Born in Halifax in 1927, he was the son of the late Harold G. Raymond and Mary (Hendry) Raymond. He was educated in the Halifax Public Schools and at Dalhousie University. It was at Dalhousie that Phil fell in love with Eula Verge, and that love grew to become the centre of the rest of his life. Phil and Eula were married on August 1, 1950. Phil had accepted a sales position with the Underwood Typewriter Company, in 1951 he was transferred to their Montreal branch, and Phil and Eula moved to Montreal. During their 12 years in that city, Phil increased his business knowledge through study and different work experiences, rising to the role of Controller at a local manufacturing company. In 1963, Phil and Eula returned to Halifax with their young family, after Phil accepted the position of Sales Manager with Scotia Equipment Ltd., a parts and service company, founded in 1919, specializing in commercial vehicles. In 1975, the Raymond family acquired full ownership of the Company. Later, in 1987, Phil changed the name of the company to “Parts for Trucks, Inc.”. In 1979, the company had began an expansion program by opening branch locations in key areas of the four Atlantic Provinces. Phil was successful in establishing distributorship agreements with many of the major manufacturers of heavy-duty truck parts in North America. He attained corporate membership in several trade associations both in Canada and in the United States, serving as a director and officer of many of those organizations. Phil retired as President of Parts for Trucks in 1996. As a life-long member of the Anglican Church, Phil was an active volunteer at the Cathedral Church of All Saints in Halifax. He served on several Parochial and Diocesan committees, a licensed Diocesan Lay Reader, and was also an active board member of the Institute of Pastoral Training. Phil and Eula were long-time advocates for the mentally challenged and joined volunteer groups that lobbied the government to move intellectually handicapped people out of the institutions and into the community. Phil became involved in what is now the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL). He was chairman of the Halifax Branch when its first Group Home was established and a founder of the Regional Residential Services Society. He was also on the Board of the Atlantic Research Centre for the mentally challenged, which was associated with Dalhousie University. For three consecutive years, he was delivered an address to third-year medical students about what a physician should say to the parents of a new-born child who has Down Syndrome. Phil enjoyed boating from the time he was 12 years old, especially sailing. He was a Past Commodore, and a Life-Member, of the Armdale Yacht Club. He was also an active and enthusiastic member of the Masonic Fraternity for many years. Phil, Eula, and John enjoyed many years home on St. Margaret’s Bay, delighting in frequent visits by their 13 grandchildren. As a father and grandfather, Phil was an inspiring role-model, a ready source of wisdom and kindness. His children and grandchildren were as proud of him as he was of them. Phil is survived by his wife, the former Eula Verge, his sister Lorna Mitchell of Pictou, his sons Paul (Diane), Andy (Carmel), and John, all of Halifax, his daughters, Jane (Kim Shapiro), of Birmingham, UK, and Mary (Keith Preston), of Halifax, his grandchildren Phil (Lindsey), Danielle, and Nicolas Raymond, Duncan, Madeline, Emily, and Heather Raymond, Abigail and Eric Shapiro, Matthew, Andrew, Laura, and Scott Preston. He was predeceased by his sister Priscilla Bauld.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will take place Tuesday, August 6th, 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. Funeral service will be held Wednesday, August 7th, 11 AM at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, 1340 Martello Street, Halifax. A private family interment will take place in St. Andrew’s Anglican Cemetery, Watt Section. The family wishes to thank the staff of Drummond Hall for their kind and compassionate care to Phil, and their thoughtfulness to his family. If so desired, memorial donations may be made to Halifax Adult Services Society, 3430 Prescott Street, Halifax N.S. B3K 4Y4 or SRCF Learning Centre for Halifax, 1A Boland Road, Dartmouth N.S. B3A 3G7.

“He lived respected, and died regretted.”