Lieutenant Commander Raymond R. Bernier, USN (Ret.), died on July 15th of 2018. He was 94 years old. He was born in St. Johnsbury, VT, December 10, 1923, and graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1942. He attended Syracuse University prior to receiving a Congressional appointment to the Naval Academy. Following graduation on June 5, 1946, with the class of 1947, 3rd Co., he served in the Atlantic, on the J.P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850), the Fogg (DE-57), and the Gordius (ARL-36). He then attended flight training in Pensacola and Corpus Christi. Ray was designated a Naval Aviator on August 16, 1950. He returned to sea duty in the Pacific with Patrol Squadron ONE during the Korean conflict. In June 1953, he received orders to USNA and served as a Marine Engineering instructor for two years. Ray subsequently served in Fleet Tactical Support Squadron ONE, Naval Air Technical Training Staff, NAS Agana, Guam, and NAF Washington, D.C. in a variety of administrative and flying assignments.On retiring from the Navy on July 1, 1966, he joined the Link Simulation Systems Divisions of the Singer Company where he worked in contract accounting and management systems for 23 years, retiring in 1989 as Division Manager of Business Financial Planning. In 1971, he received a master's degree in financial management from The George Washington University. In retirement, Ray worked as a volunteer Tax Counselor for the Elderly Program in Howard County, MD, during the tax season, for 10 years. He devoted his spare time to golf and gardening and enjoyed spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He is survived by his two sons, Michael C. Bernier of Staunton, VA, and R. Paul Bernier of Great Falls, VA; a daughter, Laurene M. Loisel of Laurel, MD; ten grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marie Bernier. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, Charlestown Retirement Community, Catonsville, MD. He will be inurned at the Naval Academy Columbarium with military honors.
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