Raymond Whitson Jr.

Whitson, Raymond T., Jr., of Parrish, Florida, age 85. Born in Covington, Kentucky to Raymond T. Whitson, Sr., and Jessie Gray Whitson on October 5, 1929. Ray graduated from Holmes High School, class of 1947, where he served as Treasurer of his class and met classmates whose friendships he maintained throughout his life. As a student at the University of Kentucky, he was a member of Triangle Fraternity, enlisted in the ROTC and played sax with Dave Parry and His Orchestra. He graduated in 1952 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and entered the United States Air Force where he served in Germany and French Morocco.
In 1953 he wed Gloria Wiggins of Lexington. Upon his release from the military, Ray returned to Northern Kentucky with Gloria and their first son to join his father and brother at R. T. Whitson and Sons in Ft. Mitchell, KY as a manufacturer’s representative in the industrial filtration industry. They started out at the Dickman Apartments in Park Hills forging friendships with other young couples that are treasured still. Several years later, with three children and twins on the way, they purchased a house in Erlanger. They moved again, after the birth of their seventh child, to a home on Hope Lane in Erlanger where they welcomed their eighth and final child and remained for thirty-six years until their retirement to Parrish, Florida.
Ray was proud to have served on the city council of Erlanger for more than fifteen years and to have been a Kentucky Colonel. His penchant for language, word play and humor will be long remembered as will his love for beauty, be it in flowers, music, nature or people. Ray’s true legacy, though, is his example as a devoted husband, father and friend to any and all who were fortunate enough to have known this kind, gentle man.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, William C. Whitson.
He leaves his wife of 61 years, Gloria, three sons, Raymond III (Heather) of Florence, KY., Alvin T. (Donna) of Sharonville, OH, Stuart of Hebron, KY, and five daughters, Laura McGarr (Tom) of Duette, FL, Mary Hamilton (Robert) of Erlanger, KY, Carol Kirkwood (Michael) of Hebron, KY, Janet Wright (William) of Ryland Heights, KY, and Rebecca Green (Mark) of Richwood, KY. He also leaves his sister-in-law, Mary Frances “Fran” Whitson, currently of Richmond, KY, formerly of Edgewood, KY, and his nephews, Scott Whitson (Laura) of Ashland, KY and Bruce Whitson (Penny) of Richmond, KY. Ray leaves ten grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Ray’s family will be receiving friends for a memorial service at Linnemann Funeral Home in Erlanger on Saturday, January 17 from 1pm until 3pm. Memorials may be made to Tidewell Hospice, Ellenton, Florida or Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa.