Raymond Lee Friend

Raymond Lee Friend, 75, of Chicora, went to be with the Lord Tuesday afternoon, April 29, 2025, at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh surrounded by his loving wife and family. 

Raymond was born in Clairton, Allegheny County, on June 6, 1949. He was the son of the late Clyde R. and Myrtle Keener Friend. He was a 1967 graduate of Butler High School.

Raymond was a proud United States Army veteran stationed at Ft. Monroe, VA. He worked at Langley Air Force Base where he repaired the electrical systems of airplanes and helicopters. In 1970, he was deployed to Da Nang Bay in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1971. Following his military service, he worked for Traco Windows for many years and retired in 2015. Raymond looked forward to the annual family trip to Cook Forest. He enjoyed roller skating, hiking, crossword puzzles, playing cards, the company of his cats, and most especially the company of his family. 

Raymond is survived by his wife, Peggy Cumberland Friend, whom he married on November 18, 1987, at the North Butler Presbyterian Church. Also surviving is a son, Francis Friend and his wife, Glynnis, of Verona, WI; a daughter, Katherine Hazlett of Virginia Beach, VA; his stepdaughters, Paula Menteer and her husband, Casey, of Kane and Stephanie Neely of Butler; his grandchildren, Ruth and Grace Friend, Sydney and Emma Hazlett. He was affectionately “Grandpa Ray” to his step-grandchildren, Shaine Miller, Jonathan Koebler, and Kenny Clark. Also surviving are his brothers, Ronald Friend and his wife, Michelle, of Winter Springs, FL, and Rod Friend and his wife, Philippa, of Sarver; his sisters, Saundra Isovitch and her husband, Bob, of Butler and Cynthia Crytzer (Stan Spence) of Mercer, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant brother, Roger Friend, and a stepdaughter, Lucretia Miller Angert.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025, from the North Butler Presbyterian Church, 137 N. Butler Church Rd., Chicora, with the Rev. Mary Kitchen, former church pastor, officiating.  The interment will be in North Butler Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Friend’s name may be made to the North Butler Presbyterian Church or for cancer research. To send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.