Raymond Bolon

Ray Thomas Bolon, 91 of Claremont died Friday, June 12th, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family and friends. Born January 1st, 1924, he was the son of the late Thomas Bolon and Albie Fait Bolon of Midvale, Ohio. Ray was raised by his maternal grandmother, Christina Fait of New Philadelphia, Ohio. Ray graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1941 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps after Pearl Harbor. He Served as a combat crew member in a heavy bomb group of the Liberator B-24's based in New Guinea from 1943-1946. Their bombing missions targeted Japanese air bases and supply depots in the Solomon Islands, Dutch East Indies, and New Guinea. After his discharge, he attended Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio and received a Bachelor of Arts degree, followed by a Master in Arts degree from Ohio State University. He did post graduate work at Kent state University in their Doctoral programs as well as advanced Graduate work at the University of Southern California. After service as a teacher in Sandusky, Ohio, he and his family moved to California where he held an administrative position in the Beverly Hills, California School district. Following his retirement from the k-12 public schools in California in 1980, he accepted a teaching position in the dept. of School Administration and Policy Studies at California State University in Sacramento. He taught there until his retirement in 1990 after 41 years as an educator. Ray and his wife Marcy then moved to Taylor, Texas where they spent many wonderful years, prior to moving to Claremont, NC, to be near their son. Ray was very active in the communities where he lived and participated in local service organizations. He was an active member of the Claremont United Methodist Church, the Claremont Lions Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is survived by his wife, Malinda Harmon, his son Doug Bolon and wife Wendy of Tennessee; a grandson Jeff and wife Jenny Aidikoff of California; a sister Gladys Kasimer of Ohio; and a cousin Charlene Edwards of Ohio. In addition to his parents; his wife of 57 years, Marcy Bolon; a daughter Lynne Bolon-Aidikoff; and a sister Betty Miller preceded him in death. A Memorial Service for Ray has been planned for 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 16, 2015 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Claremont. Memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Please sign the online guestbook at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Bolon family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton.828-464-1555