Senior Master Sergeant, Raymond D. Michael completed his last launch Monday, September 12, 2022. He was born February 6, 1931 to Raymond B. and Eva Marea Hartman in Shamokin Dam, PA. He graduated from Selinsgrove High School, Selinsgrove, PA in June of 1949. He enlisted in the USAF in December of 1950. Raymond served during the Korean War and was a Cold War and Vietnam veteran. After his graduation from basic training from Lackland AFB and Shepard AFB, TX in 1951, he was assigned to the 3400th Technical Training Squadron, the Electronic Training of the Air Force at Keesler AFB, MS. In Biloxi, MS he served in administration; serving there until June 1955. From 1955 until December 1956, he served in North Africa with the 7272nd Air Police Squadron at Wheelus AB, Tripoli, Libya. He worked in administration for the Provost Marshal. Upon his return to the US from Libya, he was assigned to Det 28, 9th Weather Group and later Det 3, Air Weather Service outside Andrews AFB, MD. At Suitland, MD, he served in administration there from January 1957 until December 1957. He then retrained into Airborne Electronic Countermeasures. Upon graduation from tech school in late 1958, he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command’s 92nd Bomb Wing at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA and served in the 92nd Armament and Electronic Squadron as an ECM Repairman and later as an ECM Supervisor for systems installed on the B-52 D Strato Fortress at Fairchild AFB, Washington; Moses Lake AB, Washington and Ellsworth AFB at Rapid City, SD. He served with the B-52 until April 1967 when he entered the Vietnam War by being assigned to the 388th A&E Squadron of the 388TAC Fighter Wing at Korat AB, Thailand. He was a radar homing and warning supervisor for the maintenance of electronic equipment installed on the F-105 Thunderchief Fighter Aircraft. On his return to the states in April 1968, he was assigned to the 429th Tac Fighter Squadron at Nellis AFB, NV. He was an ECM supervisor and later an Air Electronic Superintendent for Avionics equipment on the F-11 Fighter Aircraft. He spent a short TDY at Cannon AFB, NM to help organize an avionics section for a new squadron. He retired from the USAF in July 1971 and went to work with Centel Telephone Company of Nevada as a telephone switchman. He worked there for 22 ½ years. It was at Centel he met and married “the love of his life,” Bettye. During their employment at Centel, and after retirement, they travelled extensively across the US and Hawaii visiting many of the national parks. They were avid campers, hunters and fishermen. They spent many years hunting deer and elk, and fished for trout in northern Nevada and Central Utah. Raymond was preceded in death by the “love of his life,” Bettye Michael; and his brother, Elwood of Lewisburg, PA. He is survived by his children, Ray Jr. (Linda) of Alexandria, VA, David (Debbie) of Las Vegas and Clente of Marietta, GA; three stepchildren, Mike (Kathy) Calmy, Patrick (Bonnie) (Lorri) Calmy and Earlene (Andy) Holguin, all of Las Vegas; grandchildren, Marisa and Jon (Megan) Michael, Caitlyn, Charlcie and Dakota Holguin, Steve (Kim) and Scott (Stefanie) Calmy; Kristi and Michelle Calmy, Chase, Hayden, Nash and Regan Calmy, all of Las Vegas; great-grandson, Kyle Calmy; very special friend Linda Vandermeer; two sisters, Violet of Forest Hills, NY and Carol Jean Pursell of Milltown, NJ; nephews, Mahlon (Butch) Yerger of Mt. Pleasant Hills, PA, Tim and Barry Pursell of Milltown; nieces Cindy (Darwin) Klock of Sunbury, PA and Lynn (Michael) Pursell Majewski of Milltown; and many grandnephews and grandnieces. Visitation will be 8-10am Sat., Oct. 15, with services at 10am, Military Committee service at 11am and reception at 11:30am, all at Palm Eastern Mortuary, 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Michael family.
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