Celebration of Life services for Raymond T. Batich, 80, of Willoughby, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Christ Lutheran Church, 5555 SOM Center Road, Willoughby. The Rev. David Thielo will officiate.

“Our beloved Ray passed away suddenly due to a stroke Tuesday, January 17, 2017.”

Ray made his arrival into the world on May 19, 1936, and was born in the family home off of Holmes Ave. in the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, where his father was a crane operator in the Collinwood yard. He went on to become a graduate of Collinwood High School and then joined the Army after where he was a Mess Sergeant stationed at Fort Knox.

He met and married the love of his life and best friend January 27, 1962. They were slated to celebrate 55 years of marriage this year. Initially living in Euclid, Ohio, they then moved to Highland Heights Ohio, where they lived for 20 years before moving to Willoughby, where they currently reside.

Ray was a devoted husband, father and friend and was always reminding us that “family was everything.” He was a U.S. Army veteran, an active member of Christ Lutheran Church, an avid Corvette enthusiast and was talented on the Slovenian button box, fiddle and harmonica.

Mr. Batich worked as a metallurgist with Brush Wellman in Cleveland Ohio his entire career including aerospace applications with his most noted work on Apollo 11 heat shield and authored technical publications which are housed in Smithsonian Institute.

He was the beloved husband of 55 years to Patricia M. (nee Manolio) Batich; loving father of Deborah L. (Joe) Shumar and Patricia M. (Philip) Gaeta; cherished grandfather of William Shumar, Brittany Shumar, Cara Melaragno and Nicholas Gaeta; and uncle to the Talbot family including Kenneth, Gary, Mark, Preston, Joseph, Mary, Phyllis, Karen, Gail, Nancy (deceased) and Elaine (deceased). Raymond was also preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Mary (nee Lisjak) Batich; siblings, Joseph Batich and Helen Talbot; and brother-in-law, Kenneth Talbot.

Family will receive friends from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church prior to the service. Burial will be private.

Arrangements are entrusted to McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Homes in Willoughby and Mentor.

To leave condolences for the family, order flowers or light a memorial candle, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.

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