Raymond Blaise Filipowski

Raymond Blaise Filipowski, 83, of Sanford, passed away Monday September 23, 2019. Funeral services will be held at St. Stephens Catholic Church on Thursday September 26, 2019 at 10 am. Family will receive friends following the service. Internment will follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Ray was born and raised in Goshen, NY to the late John Jacob Filipowski and Genevieve Foremny Filipowski. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary Cecilia Hennesey Filipowski; second wife Barbara Alice Hamilton Filipowski;daughter Geralyn Thersa Filipowski; sisters Rosalie Filipowski, and Theresa Theofilos; brothers, John Filipowski and Leonard Filipowski. Ray enlisted in the Navy when he was 17 years old. He served our country proud in both the Navy and Coast Guard Auxiliary.  He retired from the Auxiliary as an Officer with 20 years of service.   Prior to his service in the Auxiliary, he worked over 30 years as a civilian airplane mechanic and plant engineer.  He and Sandie served as Christian Missionaries traveling over the U.S. for six years.  He was an active volunteer with numerous Sheriff’s Departments as well as many other organizations where volunteering kept the organization alive and vibrant.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and Patriot Sailor.

Surviving are his wife, Sandra Fletcher Filipowski; son, Sean Filipowski of NY; daughters, Gina Van Hook (Kurt) of NC and Michele Dertouzos of NJ; stepsons, Michael Fletcher of GA, Patrick Fletcher (Cheryl) of MD, Shawn Fletcher (Lisa) of WV, and Kevin Fletcher (Dawn) of MD; grandchildren; Jessica, Nicholas, Michael, Jenna Rose, Noah, Lulu, Dylan, Matthew, Marcus, Ryan, Logan, Kiera, Thomas, Casey and Sara; great-grandchildren; Skylar, Londyn, Axel, and Reese; siblings, Adam Filipowski (Tinie) of NY, Mary Berlingeri of OR, Anne Gilday of NJ, William Filipowski (Peggy) of NV, Edward Filipowski of VA, Francis Filipowski (Shelia) of MA; and sister-in-law, Merle Filipowski of NC.

Memorials:  In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Scleroderma Foundation at scleroderma.org.  Ray was active as a volunteer in many organizations where he lived throughout his life and a good samaritan.  Keep his memory alive by volunteering in an organization