Raymond null Raffin obituary

Raymond Raffin Obituary

Jackson, Pennsylvania, United States

May 12, 1940 - January 14, 2016

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Raymond null Raffin obituary

Raymond Raffin Obituary

May 12, 1940 - Jan 14, 2016

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Mr. Raymond Raffin, age 76, of 19 East Street, Wyalusing, Pa., passed away at his home on Wednesday morning, Dec. 14, 2016, after battling lung cancer.Ray was born on May 12, 1940 in Madera, Pa., the son of the late John and Nancy Russin Raffin.He graduated from Moshannon Valley High School in Madera, Pa., in 1958, where he earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. A 1962 graduate of Lock Haven State College with a B.S. in Health Education, he was a member of the Bald Eagles football team for four seasons.Ray has been married to the former Mary Ann Kokal for 52 years, and they have a daughter, Michele, and two sons, John and Karl.Mr. Raffin was a Health and Physical Education and Driver's Education teacher at Wyalusing Valley High School. He became the head coach of the WVHS football team in 1966 and served continuously in that capacity for 35 seasons until his retirement in 2001.During his tenure as head coach, his football teams had a record of 205-145-7, and they won a total of 11 Northern Tier League championships and one District Four title. They have been post-season district playoff qualifiers nine times and have reached the district finals on five separate occasions. In addition, the Rams, under Coach Raffin, captured Eastern Conference Northern championships from 1993-1996.In the early 1980s, Coach Raffin's Wyalusing teams produced a 25-game winning streak-at the time a Northern Tier record-and they were named by the Elmira Star-Gazette as the "Twin Tiers Team of the Year" in 1983. Ray was named Northern Tier League "Coach of the Year" six times. He served as an assistant coach for the East squad at the 1983 Pennsylvania Big 33 Game, and he was the head coach of the North team at the 2000 District Four All-Star Game. Coach Raffin was inducted into the Northeastern Region Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000 and, most recently, to the Lock Haven University Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 1960 Western Conference championship team. Last year, Coach Raffin was an inaugural inductee to the Wyalusing Rams Football Hall of Fame and recently was honored with the football field being named after him.In addition to his time he spent in the classroom and on the field at Wyalusing Valley, he was a member of the Our Lady Perpetual Help Parrish, a member and acting president of the Wyalusing Lions Club. In 2015 Ray was awarded Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, highest honor a Lion can achieve. He was an Eagle Scout. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman who loved to spend time at the family tree farm on Lime Hill.Ray is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ann Raffin of Wyalusing, Pa.; his daughter, Michele Raffin and companion Jeff Cragle of Laceyville, Pa.; his sons, John Raffin of Kutztown, Pa., and Karl Raffin and his wife Mary of Towanda, Pa.; his grandchildren Jackson Raymond Raffin and Cash Joseph Raffin. Also surviving is his sister Florence Kessling (Clarence) of Chambersburg, Pa.; sister-in-law Gloria Webb of Hollidaysburg, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews; as well as many loyal friends and students. Ray was great role model and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Besides his parents Ray was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Joe Webb, and father and mother-in-law Thomas and Linda Kokal.The family will be having a private Memorial Mass from the St. Mary's of the Assumption Church with Fr. Joseph Manarchuck officiating. Family and friends are invited to attend the Celebration of Life visitation from 1:30-3:30 p.m.. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at the Wyalusing Valley High School Auditorium. Interment will take place at the Wyalusing Borough Cemetery on a later date at the convenience of the family In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Ray Raffin Scholarship Fund, c/o Wyalusing Education Foundation, PO Box 204, Wyalusing, PA 18853.Arrangements were entrusted with Sheldon Funeral Homes, 155 Church Street, Wyalusing, Pa. Online condolences may be made at www.sheldonfuneralhomes.com.
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