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Raymond Ernest Fontaine, 94 years young, of Westbrook passed away quietly on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11.

He was born Aug. 5, 1927, at his parent’s farm in Franklin. Growing up in Franklin, he had so many memories of a boyhood that he shared with family, of swimming in the pond and then ice skating on that same pond, collecting milk from the dairy farm next door, and a life where when you looked into the sky at night you could see all the stars and constellations. He remembered that life with great fondness.

After leaving the farm at the age of 18, he joined the Navy and was on the USS Livermore during the last year of the war. He left the service but rejoined in the early 1950s where he had his dream service: submarines. He literally saw the world as attested by all the photographs of him in different parts of the world. He and his shipmates received a blessing from Pope Pius XII. During his second enlistment, he met and married the love of his life, Barbara Barrett Fontaine. They went on to have two children while he was stationed at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. At 90 he was on a Veterans Flight to Washington D.C. where he visited the World War II Memorial.

He and his family moved in the mid-1950s to Westbrook, where he worked for L.C. Doane in Essex, designing lighting for naval ships. He then went to work at Millstone Nuclear Power Plant. After retirement, he was able to enjoy his hobbies of woodworking, making bookcases, toy boxes, and naughty chairs. He got his pilot’s license at the age of 55. He enjoyed watching his beloved Red Sox win the World Series.

His other hobbies included his family genealogy of which he was very proud having found long-lost relatives including in Germany, which he was able to visit and stayed friends with ‘til the end.

He was a past volunteer member of both the Westbrook Fire Department and the Westbrook Ambulance. He enjoyed being of service to many and took great pride in volunteering.

Before lockdown, he enjoyed his weekly Elks Club Thursday night member’s dinner where he enjoyed talking and seeing friends. He also went to the senior breakfast on Tuesday morning at the Senior Center at the Westbrook Town Hall, when he decided he was old enough at 88 to attend. He loved their blueberry pancakes.

He was predeceased by his parents, Alfred O. and Edith (Rother) Fontaine, his brother Frederick Fontaine, and his wife Barbara.

He is survived by his daughter Lynn Fontaine and granddaughter Abigail Fontaine of Westbrook, his son Paul and daughter-in-law Carla Fontaine of Springdale, Arkansas, and his grand-dogs Tucker, Buddy, and Jazz.

His family would like to thank both Westbrook Visiting Nurses and Middlesex Hospice for the wonderful people they have working for them and their excellent care of Raymond. They thank the Westbrook Fire Department for all the joy they gave him during his time of service and getting him out of the house during the annual department carnival in July where he worked in the food tent and could schmooze with all his friends, and riding in the Model T during the 100th anniversary. They thank the Westbrook Ambulance for all the runs and lift assists they provided in the last eight months.

Our Poppie/Razor was a real people person and loved to talk about all manner of things with all he met. He loved his family and cherished his friends. He loved jokes and a good belly laugh.

Services will be held at a later date.

Please make donations in Raymond’s name to Westbrook Visiting Nurses, a wonderful organization.