Raymond C. Blinn II
Ray, age 79, of Lansing, MI, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 30, 2024. He was born February 9, 1945, in Philadelphia, PA, to the late Raymond Chester and Lillian Ruth (Garrison) Blinn.
Ray grew up in Akron, OH, and was made a child of God at his baptism on June 3, 1945, at St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church in Akron. After graduating in 1963 from Kenmore High School, he enlisted in the Army (Security Agency), serving in Indochina, Okinawa, and Korea.
Ray had been employed at Troutman’s Department Store in Butler, PA. He was a nursing home administrator in Michigan for many years, until his retirement in 2007. After retirement, Ray worked for Estes-Leadley Funeral Homes as a funeral service assistant.
He married Darlene Atkinson on August 29, 1987. They were members of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lansing for the past 36 years. Spending time with his wife, family and friends, were his greatest passions.
Ray is survived by his loving wife, Darlene Blinn; 2 stepsons, Eric McClelland and his wife, Lisa Swager, of Sykesville, MD, and Deron McClelland and his wife, Becky, of Clinton, MI; 13 much-loved grandchildren, Rob (Kelsey Simmons) McClelland of Butler, PA, Emmaleigh (Dylan) Pounders, Ethan (Kellie), Olivia (John Traeger), Ivy, Anders, Addison, Ezra, Erin, Alistair, Ezekial, Avonlea, and Eden McClelland of Clinton, MI; 2 great-grandchildren, Elijah and Desirae; brothers, Fred “Fritz” Blinn of Greenwood, IN and Steve (Jo) Blinn of Tallmadge, OH; sister, Nancy Douglas of Hixson, TN; his aunt; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 8, 2024, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4001 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. Interment will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday in Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI. His family will receive relatives and friends from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel and beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.
12 Messages to “Raymond C. Blinn II”
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Deborah McClelland
April 1, 2024 at 6:39 pmI’ve known Ray for quite a few years. He was an amazing man with a great sense of humor. He dearly loved his family, and they loved him. I’m honored to have had him as a friend.
Lori Holliday
April 1, 2024 at 8:00 pmRay, you’ve been an amazing friend for so long……you and Darlene. I will surely miss you and your calm, kind demeanor. Thank you for being so kind to Lucas when we were all in choir. He thought of you as an adopted uncle. Our loss is heaven’s gain. See you again, my friend.
Diane Taylor
April 1, 2024 at 9:22 pmYou will forever be “the other grandpa” to “the other Robbie”. Thank you for loving him like he was your own. We will always cherish the Michigan trips, and all the wonderful times that we shared. I will always remember the kind man that you were. I was blessed to have called you family. Love, hugs and unending prayers for comfort and peace to Darlene and family.
Sharon Easterling
April 2, 2024 at 7:14 amI have know Ray since we were in Kindergarten at Lawndale Elementary, then Kenmore High school in Akron, Ohio. Lost contact after graduation but reconnected at our High School Class Reunions catching up with each other and meeting his lovely wife Darlene. So many great memories, I know he is rejoicing with God in heaven seeing family members and friends who have passed before him. We will all meet again with open arms when we are called home, RIP Ray
Darlene Blinn
April 27, 2024 at 5:54 pmThank you Sharon for your kind words. I know Ray felt the same way about his school friends. He really enjoyed catching up at the class reunions! God Bless and keep in touch.
Love Darlene
Thomas H VanBlaricom
April 2, 2024 at 8:58 amRay was a remarkable friend, even closer to me than any brother ever could be, So many wonderful memories of all our times worshiping, singing in choir, fellowship at Zion. All the camping trips together with him and Darlene, All the ball tournaments that they both traveled with us to & Ray was part of our team as he took photos at all and everone on the team felt he was a team mate, All our conversations about sports, Ray was a teriffic fan of all. I could always count on him to be there for me. I could go on & on. I am so sad to lose a such a close and special friend but also rejoicing at the same time as Ray is now with our Lord Jesus and that one day we will be together again.
Vicki (Kuhlman) Johnson
April 2, 2024 at 5:01 pmI’m so sorry for your loss. I will always remember Ray as a kind man, and am grateful our families were friends through the years.
Darlene Blinn
April 27, 2024 at 5:56 pmThank you Vicki. We really enjoyed being part of the Everett Band Booster family and getting to know you and your family. God Bless you.
Love, Darlene
Gary Weber
April 4, 2024 at 6:37 amMy condolences to the Blinn family. I worked with Ray at Estes Leadley. Ray was always there with a smile on his face and of course the kindness he exuded. Ray was also part of the team when my wife passed and stayed with me through the luncheon and I will be forever grateful for his kind words as well as his concerns for me. I last saw Ray last August at Lug Nuts game and while standing in line shared many memories of our days at Estes.
May the lord take your hand and guide you to your final resting place for you have earned it!
When we meet again Ray!!
Jiim and Krystn Palmer
April 7, 2024 at 1:17 pmRay was one of the nicest people to know. I have known Ray for many years and 1st met Ray when he would bring his car in for service at Mitsubishi. My wife, mother in law and I always sat right behind Ray and his lovely wife Darlene at Church.
Darlene Blinn
April 27, 2024 at 5:58 pmThank you for your kind words. I miss you and your family. God Bless you.
Love, Darlene
Mandy Dellinger
April 10, 2024 at 5:20 pmHeaven gained an Angel, Ray was always kind and smiling. We knew Ray thru Darlene and then thru working with him at RE/MAX. He loved Darlene and the family so much! He always stayed in touch thru Facebook and cards. Sending prayers and love to the family and friends. He is celebrating with the Lord and has found eternal everlasting light in Heaven