Raymond Lee Edmonston, age 90, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at the Comanche County Hospital in Coldwater, KS.  He was the son of Atlee Monroe and Edith Opal (Carey) Edmonston.  He was born in Protection, KS on June 25, 1930, in a home just one block north of the home that he lived in for over 55 years.

Raymond was a life-long resident of Protection.  He often commented on the values that the people of Protection taught him.  Family, friends, and community were often topics of discussion during his retirement years.  As a youth, he began working in the Edmonston & Son's garage doing odd jobs.  He developed into a master mechanic.  The garage was owned and operated by his grandfather Jesse Edmonston, his uncle Milo Edmonston, and his Dad.  He credited these three men with teaching him how important honesty and hard work were in life.

Raymond was infatuated with airplanes, flying, and motorcycles.  His Uncle Milo was a fighter pilot during WWII and that encouraged his interest in aviation.  So, at the age of 15, he decided to take flying lessons from an instructor from Coldwater.  After several months of lessons, the instructor happened to stop by the garage.  He proceeded to inform Atlee how good a pilot Raymond was and that he was going to fly solo in a few weeks.  Unfortunately, Raymond was a year too young to get his license and he just happened to forget to ask Atlee for permission to take the lessons.  He often commented that one of his biggest regrets of his life was not completing his pilot training.  He did continue his interest in motorcycles into his 70's.

It was during high school that he noticed a young lady.  He was challenged by his friends to ask her out on a date, so he mustered his courage and asked Frances Marylene Ann Vogt for a date.  After getting her parent's permission, they went on a date.  He knew right away that he had met the love of his life.  On July 10, 1950, they were married in Clayton, New Mexico. The couple was accompanied by Atlee and Edith Edmonston, Marlene Edmonston, and Wayne Woolfolk.  They were blessed with four children:  Myrna Kay, Craig Alan, Brian Keith, and Joel Ray.  This union lasted for over 59 years until the passing of Frances on April 14, 2010.

Raymond served in the Air Force from 1951 to 1955 with1½ years spent overseas in the South Pacific.  Frances was able to join him in Altus, OK for the last 16 months of his service.  Raymond received several commendations for his service and declined an opportunity to attend officer's school.  He served in the Air Force Reserves for several years.  After his honorable discharge, they returned to Protection to work at the garage.  Years later, and after the retirement of Atlee and Milo, Raymond took over the business.  He operated the garage until his retirement.  During this phase of their lives, Frances went to school and received her nurse's degree.

Raymond was a member of the First Christian Church, the American Legion, and the Kansas Freemasons Comanche Lodge No. 25.

In his later years, he and Frances enjoyed traveling in the western portion of the United States.  He particularly liked to visit the mountains of Colorado and Western Wyoming.  To him, the scenery was a reminder of God's presence in the world.  When asked what achievement he was most proud of.  He would always answer, his family.  He would always include his sisters, Marlene and Carmen, in that answer.  He thought the world of his sisters.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, Atlee and Edith Edmonston; daughter, Myrna McCarl; granddaughter, Kaitlin Gillespie; sister, Carmen Watson; brother in-laws, Jim Watson and Wayne Woolfolk.

He is survived by his sons, Craig  (Connie) Edmonston of Fayetteville, AR; Brian (Richelle) Edmonston of Stillwater, OK; and Joel (Mary) Edmonston of Boan Nai, Vietnam; sister: Marlene Woolfolk of Protection, KS; grandchildren:  Melanie (Chris) Gillespie of Perryton, TX; Jennifer (Dustin) Bruner of Perryton, TX; Megan Edmonston of Fayetteville, AR; Dustin Edmonston of Fayetteville, AR; Christopher (Victoria) Edmonston from Dallas, TX; Kylie (Timothy Williams) Edmonston of Hamon, OK; great grandchildren: Riley Gillespie of Perryton, TX;  Kolton (Courtney White) Bruner of Perryton, TX; Reese Bruner of Perryton, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the First Christian Church of Protection, KS, Protection Valley Manor, or Comanche County Hospital, in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P, O, Box 417, Coldwater, KS  67029.

Burial was at the Protection Cemetery in Protection, KS.

Memorial Service is at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2022, at Protection Cemetery in Protection, KS, with Pastor Rusty Westerfield presiding and full military honors.