Raymond Riley Marsh died unexpectedly on Nov. 22, 2023 at his home in Truro. The cause was sudden cardiac arrest, said his daughter, Amy Wheeler. “He was totally sharp until the time of his death,” she said. He was 91.
The son of John and Betty Marsh, Raymond was born on April 5, 1932 in Elba, Ala. The youngest of five children, he grew up on a family farm that grew cotton, peanuts, and corn. He learned how to work hard, a value he passed to his children.
Raymond graduated from Red Level High School in 1950. Encouraged by two older brothers who served in the military, he joined the U.S. Air Force on June 27, 1950. That was his ticket out of Alabama.
After completing basic training in Texas, he trained in radar technology in Biloxi, Miss., becoming what airmen called a “Scope Dope.” His main responsibility was to monitor air traffic with an emphasis on keeping track of enemy aircraft coming into U.S. air space.
Raymond’s first assignment was with the 776th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron in Bangor, Maine, where he helped set up the radar station. During his time there, a call came in on the radio from the Air Force base in North Truro. “Where is that?” he asked, according to Amy. He would come to spend much of his life there.
After Bangor, Raymond was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, Biloxi, Miss., and Freising, Germany. He helped support his mother in those years. Upon his discharge, he returned to the States.
He re-enlisted in 1954 and was sent to Panama City, Fla.; Tripoli, Libya; Udine, Italy; Benghazi, Libya; and finally, in 1958, to North Truro, where he met Antoinette Williams, a Truro native. They married in 1960 and later welcomed two daughters.
In 1969 Raymond was deployed to Saigon, Vietnam. After his return to North Truro, the family accompanied him to the Azores and to Albuquerque, N.Mex. From there he was deployed to Thailand and Kuwait before returning to Albuquerque.
Raymond retired in 1976 with the rank of master sergeant after 26 years of service. He insisted on returning to Truro because, Amy said, “he liked the Cape and wanted to spend the rest of his life here.” He worked on a seasonal maintenance crew for the Cape Cod National Seashore from Provincetown to Wellfleet in the years 1978 to 1994.
“He was a military dad,” said Amy, “strict but fair, and he worked hard to care for his family.” He was also, she added, “quite an honest man” who instilled strong values in his children.
Raymond is survived by two daughters, Darien Deschaine of Truro and Amy Wheeler of South Dennis, granddaughters Alex Wheeler and Jordan Wheeler, and grandson Joshua Wheeler, all of South Dennis. He also leaves his feline companion, Boo Boo.
He was predeceased by his siblings, Jeff, Wilbur, Paul, and Vesta, and by his wife of 60 years, Antoinette.
Raymond was laid to rest on Dec. 4, 2023, at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne in a private service for the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the Truro Fire Association, P.O. Box 88, Truro 02666.
