Raymond Laughlin

Raymond Bernard Laughlin was a good man in every respect. He learned early on in life that material possessions matter little and that family comes first. From serving his country to teaching his children, Ray always fought for what was right, and always put the needs of others before his own.

The decade from 1910 to 1919 was the setting for the fabled "Dance Craze" of the 1910s. During this period the link between dancing and popular music became stronger than ever before, and more than a hundred new steps appeared between just 1912 and 1914. It was no longer enough to just sing, play, or sit and listen to a piece of music; for a tune to be a big "hit," you had to be able to dance to it. This time in our history was the perfect setting for the birth of Raymond Laughlin, a man who loved to dance, right up to the end. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on March 16, 1917, he was the tenth and last child born to Patrick and Agnes (McCauley) Laughlin.

Being the youngest of such a large family, Ray was placed in St. John’s Home in Grand Rapids when he was six months old. At that time, St. John’s was a Roman Catholic Orphanage, and Ray lived under their care until he was six years old. He attended St Francis School in Grand Rapids. As a teenager, he and his mother moved to Kalamazoo, beginning a new chapter in Ray’s life. In October of 1934, Ray was enjoying an evening of fun at the Silver Star Roller Rink in Kalamazoo. It was here that he met the love of his life, the beautiful Elizabeth. After a courtship of several years, Ray and Elizabeth were married on August 28, 1937 at St. Mary’s Church in Kalamazoo.

Over the next few years, Ray and Elizabeth were blessed with two wonderful children, son Ray and daughter Pat. Ray was a diligent and loving father who took time to teach his children the values he had learned growing up. Being responsible was an important lesson and Ray taught his son by helping him get a paper route. He constantly followed up with young Ray to make sure things were going smoothly. Family camping trips up north were the setting for many happy family memories and lessons in life. And if someone was ill, Ray was there for comfort, even if he himself was not feeling well.

When WW II came on the horizon, Ray, like thousands of other young men, was drafted into the Navy. Fortunately for Ray and his family, most of his tour was spent serving at a mine depot in Norfolk, Virginia. After being discharged from the Navy, Ray began working for the Parks Department for the City of Kalamazoo making $11 a week. A few years later he worked many of the paper mills in town and continued to “bug” the Upjohn Company for a job. It paid off. They finally hired him in the field of Animal Research, and through his efforts, Upjohn acquired two of Ray’s inventions for animal care. Ray retired from Upjohn in 1983 after 40 years of loyal service.

However, Ray was not one to just sit around now that he was retired. He had been a boxer as a young man, fighting in Golden Gloves competitions and retained an interest in the sport. He was an active volunteer for the many community groups and service organizations of which he was a member. He spent a good deal of time helping to raise funds for the special projects of groups like the Paw Paw Elks, The Eagles on Branch Street in Kalamazoo, the German American Club and Comstock VFW Post #6252, which awarded him a life membership.

But the real love of Ray’s life – besides Elizabeth – was dancing. Oh, how that man could dance! It all started when he and Elizabeth took third place at a Jitter Bug Contest at the State Theater in 1943 – beating out 97 other couples. From then on Ray was hooked. For over fifteen years, he and Elizabeth took annual vacations to Mackinac Island with Dr. Lemmer and his wife. They would stay at the Grand Hotel and spend their evenings dancing. He and Elizabeth had entered competitions in the Michigan Senior Olympics for the past 20+ years. In 2002, when Ray was 83 years old, they took first place in every category of Ballroom Dancing in the Michigan Senior Olympics. Their talents on the dance floor earned them many medals and ribbons over the years. Ray loved nothing better than gliding across the dance floor with his beloved Elizabeth in his arms.

Honorable, patriotic, respectable and a family man best describe Ray Laughlin. He had a lifelong passion for dancing and helping others, but found the greatest joy in the presence of his loved ones. He will be greatly missed.

Raymond Laughlin, age 87 of Kalamazoo, died March 15, 2005. Graveside services will be held Friday 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. He was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters. Members of Ray’s family include his wife of 67 years, Elizabeth; a son Ray Laughlin of Bloomingdale; a daughter Pat (Darrel) Frasier of Kalamazoo; four grandchildren: Derek (Cindy) Crawford of Portage; Stacey Crawford of Flagstaff, AZ; Scott and Burch Laughlin of Duenweg, MO; two great grandchildren: Lacey and Cody Crawford of Portage; nephews: Donald, Dale, and Delbert Beelick (who Ray helped raise), and an additional nephew John Laughlin and niece Sharon Small. Please visit Ray’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory, order flowers or make memorial contributions to the family. Arrangements by Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, Kalamazoo.