Raymond F. Witte

Raymond F. Witte passed away peacefully on December 16, 2023.  Ray was born in Richmond, Indiana on October 16, 1942 to Raymond E. Witte & Ruth M. Shanahan Witte.  

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years Darlene A. Olson Witte.  Devoted father to RaeAnne Witte, Jeffrey (Vicki) Witte, & Thomas (Ginna) Witte.  Cherished Pappy/Grandpa to Addison Quintilian, Payton Quintilian, Mason Witte, Linnea Witte & Joey Witte.  He is survived by two brothers and two sisters, David (Peg) Witte, Mike (Sharon) Witte, Teresa (Gene) Allen, & Donna (Dan) Murphy.

Ray grew up in Boston, Indiana before moving to Middletown, Ohio in 1959.  He graduated from Bishop Fenwick’s “Old South” High School in 1960.  It is at Fenwick High School that he met the love of his life, Darlene.  They were married November 16, 1963 and built a home in Middletown where they raised a family and remained until Darlene’s passing in 2022.  Following his high school graduation, Ray began working for Armco Steel Corp. print shop.  He later moved to the mill and eventually became a machinist.  While still working at Armco, Ray founded Ray’s Heating & Air Conditioning, which he owned and operated well after his retirement from AK Steel in 1995.

Ray was active in the Knights of Columbus, Meals on Wheels, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and St. John Church including Sr. Jean’s Choir.  Ray loved tinkering in “the shop” where he restored his 1956 Chevy Bel Air.  He enjoyed the Cincinnati Reds, NASCAR, Dale Ernhart and vacations with friends and family.  He was especially fond of his winters spent snow birding with Darlene in Venice, Florida.  Ray was hard working, quick to give and quick to laugh.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 10:00am at Holy Family Parish - St. John Church, 1405 First Ave, Middletown with Father John Civille as celebrant.  There will be visitation on Wednesday evening the 27th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd (at Bonita Dr.), Middletown, with Knights of Columbus service at 6:30 pm. Entombment will be at Woodside Cemetery Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, Ray’s family asks that donations be made to either the St. Vincent dePaul Society, c/o Holy Family Parish, 201 Clark Street, Middletown, Ohio 45042 or St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

Please sign the guestbook at WilsonSchrammSpaulding.com