Raymond Brockman

BROCKMAN, Raymond, age 82, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday night, April 22, 2006, surrounded by family, after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Hamilton on November 23, 1923, the eldest son of Irvin Brockman and Callie (Isaacs) Brockman. He graduated from Hamilton High School and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served his country during World War II as a plane captain aboard the U.S.S. Hornet CV-12 from 1943 to 1946. He saw action in seven major battles during the Asiatic Pacific Theater and the Philippine Liberation, and was awarded nine stars and a Presidential Unit Citation. He came home from the war and married Norma Loheide on January 31, 1948.

In 1950, Ray began his career with Champion International Paper Company where he retired after 36 years of service, 35 of which were spent in management. Ray was heavily involved in the community all his life, participating in many volunteer groups. During the mid-1960s, he was named Chief of the Butler County Civil Defense and received special disaster training in Dallas, Texas which was put to good use during the Richmond, Indiana explosion in 1968. He worked area high school football games and the Butler County Fair, providing first aid and life squad services. He was an enthusiastic and hardworking member of many other civic and charitable organizations including the VFW (lifetime member), American Legion, Amvets, Post 1967, Kentucky Colonel, 50-year member of the Masons, Hugh L. Bates Lodge #686 - F & M, Scottish Rite (AASR - Cincinnati), Syrian Temple Shrine (Cincinnati), The Desert Club (past president and current vice president), the Hamilton Shrine Club, Izaak Walton League of America, Special Deputy of the Butler County Sheriff's Department, Buckeye State Sheriff's Association (Associate member), Butler County Republican Party Executive Committee member, FOPA #19 (Hamilton), Senior Citizens, Inc. (Hamilton), the Triad Salt Council (past president), and the U.S.S. Hornet Club in which he participated as chairman of the hospitality committee for the club's annual reunions since 1993. He was also a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Capt. John Bruck Camp #96 (ancestor John M. Isaacs) and the Society of Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge (ancestor Thomas Brockman).

After his retirement from Champion in 1986, Ray began sharing his passion for music by volunteering as a disc jockey and provided musical entertainment as a hobby over the years to the following organizations: Kids Day street dances, Booker T. Washington, Main St. Area Association, City of Hamilton parades, DamFest, City of Hamilton's pool parties for teens, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Expo, the Shriners, Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, Amvets 7670, Fort Hamilton Days, the Butler County Fair, O'Tucks banquets, and Butler County Republican Party functions. Any compensation received was donated by him to benefit the Shriners, the Desert Club or the U.S.S. Hornet Club.

Of the utmost importance to Ray were those with whom he served during WWII. He helped promote the U.S.S. Hornet Club in order to ensure that the sacrifices made by his beloved shipmates, as well as all the others who have served our country, would not be forgotten by future generations. Accordingly, he contributed his experiences to a related book and local tv show about the U.S.S. Hornet CV-12.

In honor of his lifelong dedication to Butler County and the City of Hamilton, former Mayor Gregory Jolivette designated August 13, 1997 as "Ray Brockman Day". He was an honoree at the 2001 U.S.S. Hornet Reunion, and was recently presented with the Republican Party Lifetime Achievement award. He will be deeply missed by his loved ones and dear friends he has made over the years.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Norma (Loheide) Brockman, son Michael (Peggy) Brockman of Hamilton, daughter Karen (Gerald) Auclair of Estoro,Florida, grandchildren Cody, Tyler and Kristen, sisters Alberta Kreegel of Fort Myers, Florida, Jeanette Barrett and Charlotte Brockman of Hamilton, brothers Jeff Brockman and Arnold Brockman of Kentucky, numerous nieces and nephews and their children, and his special buddy, "Smokey". He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Irvin "Dink" Brockman, Jr. He was a member of the West Side Church of Christ.

Ray's family wishes to extend a very special thank you to the wonderful people at Hospice of Cincinnati for all their kind support and care during Ray's last days.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 28, 2006 at the Avance Funeral Home & Crematory, 4976 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH 45014 with Rev. Ray Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Desert Club would be welcome. The family will also accept condolences at www.avancefuneralhome.com.

Visitation

5-8 p.m., Thursday April 27, 2006 @ Avance Funeral Home

Service

10 a.m., Friday April 28, 2006 @ Avance Funeral Home