Obituary: Raymond H. Carr
Raymond H. Carr, 90, of Chester Springs, and Boca Grande, Fla., Chester County real estate developer, entrepreneur and antique car enthusiast; died peacefully, surrounded by love in his Boca Grande home on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015.
He was the son of Robert H. and Edith Duling Carr. Being a lover of Big Band music, Ray started The Ray Carr Orchestra during high school and, excepting his service in the Army Air Corps, lead the Band until 1964.
Upon graduating Tredyffrin-Easttown High School, Ray joined the Army Air Corps, received his wings in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
After the war he stayed with the Army Air Corps as a member of the Army Air Corps Band until his discharge in 1947.
Upon leaving the service, Ray joined his father and brothers in the family trucking business, Robert H. Carr and Sons.
Ray was a member of the Rotary Club of Frazer and a lifelong Mason, former Board member of the Freedom Foundation and Lebanon Valley College.
Ray left the trucking business in 1964 to begin his career in real estate. As an unabashed dreamer and entrepreneur he developed the Pickering Creek Industrial Park, Holiday Inns in PA, NJ, and Ohio, and restaurants including Vickers Tavern, Duling Kurtz House, Kennedy Supplee Mansion, R.H. Carr’s, and Stottsville Inn. Ray continued his development skills with the creation of the Borough of New Morgan in Berks County, Pa.
In addition to his business accomplishments, Ray was a collector of antique and vintage automobiles. Ray holds 2 Guinness Book Records for driving the oldest vintage car across the US and the only vintage electric car from coast to coast. He also drove a 1909 steam powered car from Anchorage, Alaska to Bar Harbor, Maine making him the only person to drive gasoline, electric, and steam powered vehicles across the country. Ray also drove car rallies from Peking to Paris, Around the World in 80 Days, South Africa, and Morocco. He was a member of the Horseless Carriage Automobile Club, The Antique Automobile Club of America, Pierce Arrow Society, and The Royal Automobile Club of England, along with various other organizations.
Ray is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie H. Carr and brother Charles Carr. His spirit lives on in his children Pamela Anderson (Kent), Raymond (Patricia), Lezlie Carr, Dianne Bramhall, and Glenn and stepchildren Daniel and Terese Healy. He is also survived by his beloved 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Erwin, and brothers, Robert, Norris, and Norman Carr.
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wed. Feb. 4, at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, 410 N. Church Street, West Chester, PA 610.696.1181 www.DellaFH.com There will also be a viewing from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thurs. Feb. 5, at the West Chester United Methodist Church, 129 S. High Street, West Chester, followed by his Funeral Service at 11 a.m. Interment will be in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Chester Springs, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777 www.michaeljfox.org – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailylocal/obituary.aspx?pid=174049098#sthash.vItb5zSJ.dpuf
