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Raymond Edward Hartman of Saginaw, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family. He was 86 years old. Ray was born in Columbus, Ohio on Oct. 16, 1925, spent his youth in Centreville and most of his life in Saginaw. Although he was afraid of heights, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and became a Flight Officer (Bombardier) during WWII. He married Margaret Eleanor Abshire in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Three Rivers on Aug. 31, 1946. They recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. They lived in Kalamazoo while he attended Western Michigan University, and while there he joined the Michigan National Guard as an Infantry Platoon Leader, 1st Lt, Company C. 1st battalion, 126 Inf. Reg., 46th. Ray taught as a vocational education coordinator in the Saginaw City Public Schools for 37 years, at Arthur Hill High School and the Career Opportunities Center, retiring in 1987. He was a life member of the Michigan Education Association and the National Education Association. At Arthur Hill High School he taught retailing, placed and coordinated students on jobs, ran the student store and created and operated the school’s concessions at ball games. He organized the Co-op Club at Arthur Hill, was co-organizer of the Saginaw Valley Association of co-op clubs and the Michigan Vocational Coordinators Association, of which he was past president and board member, was named “State Vocational Coordinator of the Year” in 1983 and also listed in Who’s Who among vocational coordinators. He taught evening classes at Bay City Jr. College, Delta College and the Saginaw Adult Education Center. He served in the Kiwanis Club of Saginaw Riverside for 31 years as the secretary, treasurer and bulletin editor and publisher. He was instrumental in promoting and working on their Vial of Life Program, Friendly Saginaw Program, Courthouse Clock Tower Project and many other services projects for the city and youth of Saginaw. He was presented a life membership in the Kiwanis Club of Michigan. He was a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Saginaw, where he served as chairman of the buildings and grounds committee, secretary and vice president of the church board. He loved people and liked to be referred to as “the man that told jokes” or “here comes Trouble” for he loved to make people laugh, and chose that as his retirement project. He loved to raise tomatoes and roses, was an avid card player, played golf, and bowled.
Surviving are his loving wife, Margaret Hartman; three daughters, Connie Rae (John) Greenamyer of Angola, Ind., Patti Lynn Hartman of Saginaw and Judy Jo (Tod) Swann of Alexandria, Va.; six grandchildren; Stacy (Dan) Smith, Lee (Jenny) Greenamyer, Kelly (Grant) Wogomon of Angola, Ind., and Amy Greenamyer of Chicago, Ill.; Taylor Swann and Travis Swann of Alexandria, Va.; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Barbara Bush of Paw Paw; also surviving are many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Miles and Esther (Frankel) Hartman of Centreville; two sisters and three brothers-in-law, Leah Mae (Fred) Sherman and Betty Jane (Charles) McFarland of Columbus, Ohio, and Earl Bush of St. Joseph; and a great-grandson, A.J. Smith of Angola, Ind.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Covenant VNA Hospice for the love and care they provided to Ray.
FUNERAL: Honoring Ray’s wishes cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 2110 Brockway, Saginaw. Rev. Kathleen A. Basner will officiate.
VISITATION: Friends are welcome to visit with the family at the Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Rd. (off State), Saginaw, on Friday, Sept. 21 from 3-8 p.m.; and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Resurrection Lutheran Church, the Kiwanis Club of Saginaw, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at the church or through www.deislerfuneralhome.com.
