UNION — Raymond E. Dinsmore, Sr. was born on August 24, 1923, in Waterville, Maine. He passed away on September 11, 2020.

He was the son of Frederick and Beulah (Stevens) Dinsmore. He attended the Waterville schools and enjoyed more than anything the streams and ponds in the surrounding area. Raymond’s passion was hunting and fishing.

Shortly after the United States entered World War II, Raymond joined the Merchant Marines. He graduated from Officer’s School in Fort Trumbull, New London, Connecticut as an Ensign in the Maritime Service. His most memorable experience during the war was his convoy trip to Murmansk, Russia carrying military equipment to the Soviet Union after that country entered the war. He was certainly surprised and pleased when, in 1995, he received a beautiful commemorative medal and award from Boris Yeltsin and the Russian government, for his convoy duty.

After the war, Raymond attended Eastern Nazarene College in Wollaston, Massachusetts, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He also continued his graduate degree work at MIT and Boston University.

Raymond and Dorothy (Smith) were married on September 16, 1945 in Jackman, Maine and their journey together continued for more than 74 years.

For many years Raymond worked at Bethlehem Steel Company, later General Dynamics in Quincy, Massachusetts as an engineer. In February, 1964, he was sent to Idaho as an engineering auditor. His job was to see that the prototype of the first nuclear surface ship, the U.S. Long Beach, met all specifications. His family moved with him, and they lived in Idaho for 27 years.

Raymond loved to travel, and as a family they visited all of the lower 48 states where they visited historical sites and notable areas in each state. In 1983, when their son Fred was stationed in Spain, they visited him and toured that beautiful country. Then in 1987, when Fred was stationed in Germany, Raymond and his wife Dorothy visited him and toured many of the European countries. Raymond also enjoyed visiting China and Japan.

Raymond also enjoyed his beloved cottage on Kingsbury Pond in Kingsbury, Maine.

For almost 60 years, from 1961 onward he spent parts of every summer there, traveling from Idaho to Maine in their motor home. Raymond said it was his favorite way to travel.

Some happenings in his life that he treasured were his honor flight to the commemorative military sites in Washington, D.C. in 2014 and receiving a special award from the Town of Union in 2018 for being its oldest living veteran. He is a member of the Union Masonic Lodge #31, the Scottish Shrine and the American Legion.

Raymond was predeceased by his parents, his brother Lance, and his sister Eunice.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his sons Raymond, Jr. and Fred and his wife Sally. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kimberly and her husband Dustin of Boise, Idaho and Raymond III and his wife Ana of Florence, Massachusetts; as well as six great-grandchildren, Cody, Noah and Isabelle Conner, and Elliot, Ruthie and Sylvie Dinsmore.

A private memorial service will be held at the Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta, Maine.

Halls of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences visit www.hallfuneralhomes.com.