White River Junction, VT -Winston Herbert Raymond (93) passed away on August 9, 2019 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a short illness. Winston was born in West Peru, Maine to Percy and Delia (Wood) Raymond on March 13, 1926. He attended South Royalton High School but had to quit to help support the family. Winston married Hazel George on April 7, 1950 and they celebrated their 68th anniversary in 2018. Hazel passed last year on August 18. Together they raised 6 children; and have 24 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.

Winston was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps serving in the Pacific theatre as a B-24 ball turret gunner from 1944 to 1946.

Winston worked for five years at Vermont Hardware from 1946 – 1951. With a small group of friends, he was a founder of Oxygen & Welding Supply in White River Jct. For many years, he had routes throughout New England greeting everyone with his trademark smile. He retired after 45 years as route driver, salesman, and store manager for the company.

After retirement, Winston constructed storage units and Hazel and Winston ran Country Care Mini Storage on Old River Road in White River until they sold the business in 2016 at ages 90 and 87.

Winston was a Little League and Pee Wee coach for a number of years and consistently turned out winning teams.

Welding was his specialty and he spent much of his time teaching the art to others at Vermont Castings, Hartford Vocational Adult Classes, Lebanon Adult, and at Oxygen & Welding. More than 20 years after his retirement, he was sought out for advice by his former students.

Hunting was Winston's passion; he began hunting when a young child and never stopped. Winston hunted rabbit, bear, raccoon, bobcat, coyote, partridge, moose, turkey and deer; he got his first deer at age 12 and his last one at age 91. He was a legend in the hunting community here in Vermont and he passed on a love of hunting and the outdoors. He taught his nephews, sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons how to track, call turkeys, and to be safe in the woods. Winston would always say that he never spent much time in church because his church was in the woods. He would on occasion show his softer side and describe the perfection of sitting in silence in the woods and watching the sun come up or watching animals pass by without ever knowing he was there.

No matter where you traveled, you were almost always certain to encounter someone that knew him or had heard of him. The man was a wealth of knowledge in so many subjects. He was a jack of all trades and master of most of them. He would tell stories so vividly, that it was as if you were traveling back in time. You could envision it as if you were watching it on a movie screen.

And his smile, always smiling, he made everyone feel welcome. During his last stay at the VA Hospital, so many staff visited him in his room and everyone asked him for one more smile.

Winston and Hazel loved bluegrass music attending bluegrass festivals around New England. They loved to dance; they danced wherever music played – even in the driveway at their granddaughter's graduation party. It was not unusual to see other dancers stop to watch Hazel and Winston as they two-stepped, did the polka, waltzed and enjoyed just being with each other on a dance surface.

Winston was a founder of the Vermont Bear Hound Association, the oldest member and Honorary Lifetime Member. He was a member of the Central Vermont Bear Hound Association, American Legion Post No.26, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No 2571, BPOE-Hartford, Hartford Rod & Gun, NRA, American Welding Society, and Sharon Up & Downers Snowmobile Club.

Winston leaves his children and spouses– Sharon Raymond Ahearn, Terry Raymond and wife Andrea, Gail Billings and husband Chris, Cheryl Raymond, Denise Richard and husband Allan, Brian Raymond and wife Karen, honorary sons Richard White (Diane) and John Courtemanche (Patty); siblings – Beverly Bradley, Nathalie George, Theresa Brown, Meredith "Bill" Raymond, Sandra Hatt, and Colleen Watkins; grandchildren – Melissa Ahearn, Jennifer Gaines (Claudius), Michael Ahearn (Crystal), Heather Ahearn, Jes Raymond (Jakob Breitbach), Sara DeFelice (Eric), Shane Lyford (Jenell), Jeremi Lyford (Sadie), Lesley Donahue (Michael), Jason Billings (Krista), Katrina Gedney (Dan), Kristi Bagley, Daniel Bagley II (Danielle), Kelly Kangas (Mike), Travis Wilbur (Christina), Robert Wilbur (Rachel), Ryan Wilbur (Aryel), Jeff Richard (Sarah), Andrew Richard (Kim), Zach Richard (Jennifer), Heather Fernandes (Seth), Nicole Hard-LaRoche, Ashley Hard, and Cody Hard; great-grandchildren – Kayley Presby-Gaines, Laila and Blake Gaines, Emily Serfass, Jacob and Ryan Ahearn, Samantha Dunbar, Barrett Breitbach, Brandon Lyford, Reilly Cassinell, Hayden, Coy and Kellen Lyford, Connor and Ronan Billings, Joss Perkins, Colin and Gracie Bagley, Thomas, Alexander and Samuel Wilbur, Reed and Cardyn Wilbur, Colin and Connor Richard, Nolan and Adaline Richard, McKenna Richard, Isabelle and Massey Fernandes, Madilyn LaRoche, Jayden Foster; and 39 nieces and nephews.

He is pre-deceased by his wife Hazel Raymond, parents Percy and Delia Raymond, brothers Percy Jr, Lloyd, Theodore, and Ronald, and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the incredible nurses on 1-W, 1-S and ICU at the White River VA Hospital where he spent the last month. Also, his doctors who were caring, kind, and listened to the family - Dr. Bradley, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Weiss, Dr. Pondicherry; Peg Sullivan, his cardiologist who visited him every day; Dr. Susan Wang, his attending doctor for the past few years.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Hartford Rod & Gun Club, P.O. Box 316, Hartford VT 05047 to send kids to Conservation Camp.

Calling hours will be at Knight Funeral Home at 903 Hartford Avenue, White River Jct., VT on Wednesday evening, August 14, 2019 6-8 pm.

Burial will be at the Vermont Veterans MemorialCemetery in Randolph Center at 1PM on Thursday, August 15th .

The family would like to invite everyone who knew and loved our father to a Celebration Party on Saturday, August 17 at 11AM. Dad wanted a party and we are giving him one. Please bring a memory, story, anecdote, lawn chair, pot luck, beverage, and yourself and help us celebrate the life of a most amazing man. Celebration will be at 69 Courtemanche Hill Rd in White River Jct., Vermont.