Obituary: Harry P. Raymond Jr.

Harry P Raymond Jr., M.D., devoted husband, father, grandfather and surgeon, peacefully passed on Sunday in the presence of family, while sleeping.

Born Oct. 7, 1926, in Fort Eustis, Virginia, son of Harry P. Raymond Sr. and Berenice McAdam, Harry graduated from Charlotte Central High School and was an accomplished violinist (Charlotte Symphony Orchestra). He also achieved the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout.

Harry graduated with honors from Duke University and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Harry interned at George Washington University Hospital and completed his residency training at Bellevue Hospital in affiliation with NYU School of Medicine. While making surgery rounds, he saw Lois Ruth Saeger, a nursing student, and immediately proclaimed to his friend, "I am going to marry her!"

They were two days shy of celebrating 63 years of marriage.

Following surgical residency, Harry was drafted into the United States Air Force, serving as a Captain in the Korean War. He was responsible for a hospital in Chaumont, France; Bitburg, Germany; and Vandenburg Air Force Base, California (1955-1959). He also served as a Private in the Army during WWII (1944-1945).

After his military commitment, he and Lois relocated to Orlando. Harry practiced 46 years of medicine in Orlando. As Chief of Surgery at Lucerne Pavilion Hospital and Orlando Health, he thoroughly enjoyed teaching and working with residents. Additionally, Harry was Director of the Burn Unit for many years and worked as a Trauma Surgeon until he retired at age 75. Harry loved practicing medicine. Every patient could expect an hour meeting with him prior to surgery. Doing his own history and physical, he explained to each patient the surgery, complete with drawings.

"This way I get to know the patient and the patient knows me."

Following surgery, he visited his hospitalized patients twice a day, seven days a week. Harry's love of medicine inspired two children and three grandchildren to pursue medical careers.

Harry is survived by his wife, Lois; daughter, Dardanella Yawman, (Gregg); grandchildren, Emily, Jonathan, Daniel and Hannah; son, Paul; sisters-in-law, Miriam Huebner and Joyce Saeger; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 123 E. Livingston St, Orlando; (407) 488-1919. Interment will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 525 US-1, Mims; (321) 383-2638.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church and School. Arrangements entrusted to Colonial Funeral Home, 2811 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32806; phone (407) 895-2561.