Raymond J. Vachon, 85, of Berlin, passed away on Friday March 3, 2017 at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital. He was born in Berlin on January 15, 1932 the son of Raymond Sr and Dorothea M. (Hannigan) Vachon and graduated from Gorham High School in 1950. He was very active in high school and had worked at the Mt. Crescent House and the Ravine House during the summer and after school had worked at various hotels. Ray enlisted in the US Air Force in March of 1952 and spent most of his military career as a communication instructor and completed his military years attached to the F86D-25 Mobile Training Detachment in Tripoli and Casablanca, North Africa. He had been employed at several laboratories in Connecticut, lastly for Andersen Laboratories for 25 years, retiring as a materials manager in 1993. Ray was a past member of the Elks, the International Society of Hybrid Microelectronics, Connecticut Association of Purchasing Management, Bloomfield Connecticut OSHA Coordinator, the American Legion Post # 82 in Gorham where he served as Chaplain, Chairman of the Let No Veteran Die Alone Program District 8 and as a guide for the Gorham Historical Society. Ray was also an avid hunter and fisherman.
Family includes his children: Cheryle Colson in Springfield, MA, Gregory Vachon in Cocoa, FL and Darryl Vachon in Lakeland, FL; six grandchildren; one great granddaughter, step-daughters Jane Marnell of Orange, MA and Linda Enos of Greenfield, MA. He was predeceased by his wife Marie J. Godin Marnell and the mother of his children Irene Cavarno Martin.
SERVICES: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Family Church in Gorham on Wednesday May 24, 2017 at 10 AM Interment will be in the Holy Family Cemetery.