Raymond Chamberlain

CHAMBERLAIN

A man who was highly respected in the local community, Raymond, L. Chamberlain, 81 of Lake Choctaw, passed away on February 2nd, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. 

Ray was born on April 1, 1938, in Mount Sterling, OH, the son of Ruth Edna (Lantie) Kitts and Joseph Maxwell (Edna) Chamberlain; older brother to John (Alice) Chamberlain and Harold (Lauretta) Chamberlain.

A 1956 graduate of Mount Sterling High School, Ray played football, basketball, and baseball for the Mount Sterling Greyhounds.   In 1963, he married his high school sweetheart Mary Ann Nutt who preceded him in death. In 1979, he married Patsy Van Horn and together they worked as a team to blend their families from his and hers into ours.  

While he was raising his own kids, Ray influenced hundreds of other kids.   Whether it was his unique whistle that called an end of evening play for the neighborhood, coaching for the London Area Baseball Council, or teaching badge work, camping trips and preparing Eagle Scouts for Boy Scout Troop 102 as Scoutmaster, many looked up to him as a second dad.  Over the years, he made 4 trips to Camp Philmont Scout Ranch, in Cimarron, NM, traveling on, what for most, is a once in a lifetime scouting experience. 

            After 33 years of working for General Motors, he retired, it was the life of golf he wanted.  He played in local leagues, traveled with his brother John, son Mike and son-in-law, John, took some tee times with his long time friend and best man, Jerry Philips. However, golfing was not enough, he was soon working at Dwyers Hardware, where he was fired repeatedly but was allowed to return with a promise he would bring the coffee the following day.

Ray loved working with the London Lions Club.  While he served as Past President, he was probably best remembered for working on fundraisers like the Pancake Breakfast, Mother’s Day Roses and the Fish Sandwich stand. 

Ray and Patsy both enjoyed being a part of the Columbus Garden Railway Society.  It gave them lots of time together as Ray prepped the trains and tracks, Patsy used her gardening skills to create an amazing train garden in their very own backyard.  Each year, they had the whole family involved with the annual open house/tours. It also gave them the opportunity to take some trips throughout the US.

            On January 30th, Loving Care Hospice recognized Ray for his service in the United States Airforce during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  After the reading of the Airman’s Creed, Ray said that he would willingly do it again. He was presented with a certificate and pin.

He is survived by his amazing wife of 40 years, Patsy; his children, Melissa (Ira) Sansolo, Marc (Krista) VanHorn, Mike (Jodi) Chamberlain, and Heather (John) Peters; his grandchildren, Mara Sansolo, Kit (Karen) Sansolo, Noah, Dylan, and  Emma Van Horn, Kari (Brian) Fazio, Megan (Zach Sharp) Lambert-Chamberlain, Andrew Lambert-Chamberlain, Lauren and Jack Peters; and his great-grandchildren Parker Fazio, Madelyn and Lincoln Sharp.  

Celebration of Life for Ray Chamberlain will be held Sunday, February 9, 2020, at the Lake Choctaw Lodge.  Visitation will be from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm with a service at 4:30 pm. Services are being provided by Eberle Fisher Funeral Home in London, Ohio. Rev Lee Stanley and John Gillespie officiating.  In lieu of flowers, Ray requested donations be made to the London Lions Club, Loving Care Hospice or Madison Health Foundation.    

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