NAPPANEE – Raymond J. Schwartz, 86, of 452 E. VanBuren St., Nappanee, died at 11:30 p.m. Aug. 1, 2011, in the emergency room at Elkhart General Hospital.
He was born Sept. 5, 1924, in Bremen, to Joseph and Emma Miller Schwartz. In 1948, in Bremen, he married JoAnn Leeper, who survives.
A lifetime area resident, he was a World War II Air Force veteran, serving in England. A retired Nappanee downtown merchant, he was former owner of Ray’s Floor Covering and Sears Catalog Store and had managed Pleatcher’s Carpet Warehouse, Nappanee. He was a member of Nappanee Rotary Club, Gideons and Nappanee United Methodist Church. He served on the Nappanee City Council, was a former member of Nappanee “Smokey Stover” Volunteer Fire Dept. and was the first director of Nappanee EMS from 1976-84.
Also surviving are a daughter, Kris Trachsel, Nappanee; two sons, Kent Schwartz, Indianapolis, and Kurt Schwartz, Goshen; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Ervin Schwartz, Wakarusa; and five sisters: Lydia Mae Burkey, Esther Helmuth and Nora (and spouse Dale) Welty, all of Wakarusa; Clara (and spouse Sandord) Kilmer, Goshen; and Lora (and spouse Bill) Yoder, New Paris. He was preceded in death by two granddaughters, a great-granddaughter and a sister.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Nappanee United Methodist Church with the Rev. Linda Craig officiating. Burial will be in South Union Cemetery with military graveside services.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, and one hour prior to the service Friday at the church.
***** Memorials may be made to Nappanee United Methodist Church.
