BANGOR – Raymond “Ray” Albert Cummings passed away peacefully Tues-day evening, Jan. 9, 2008, at his home, after a lengthy and courageous battle with poor health and repeated occurrences with cancer. Ray was born July 15, 1939, in Plymouth, N.H., the eldest son of Raymond Cummings and Thelma Plume Cummings. Ray was a graduate of Plymouth High School, Class of 1957, and attended Saint Anslums College for police science, both in New Hampshire. He was a member of the National Guard. Ray spent time as a young adult working from mechanic to service manager in the Volkswagen business. Settling into the field of law enforcement working for the Laconia and Gilford police departments. In later years, he resided in Hacienda Heights, Calif., where he owned and operated an industrial saw manufacturing business for many years prior to returning and relocating to Bangor with his wife of 37 years and Bangor hometown girl, Gail McLeod Cummings, happy to raise the last two children of his large family in a quiet New England environment. Ray was a man with a personality that was bigger than life, a real people person who was very much respected and well liked in the business world and every day life. Father of a blended family of 10 children, grandfather of 16, and great-granddad to five living children and one very Special Angel no longer with us. Ray settled into a laid back life doing something he always wanted to do for fun, no golfing for him, he wanted to work as a clerk in a little store, folks around Somesville then Brewer and Bangor may remember his smiling face, he was known to the little population as the Lollipop Man. Bringing families into the store even if they only stopped for gas because the little folks wanted to visit the Lollipop Man. Ray always had a smile or a quirky saying to brighten your day. He leaves us with these final words: When I die please don’t cry Don’t wish for death Live life your best You need to move on You need to stay strong I’m not saying forget me I just want you to be happy You know I’ll always Love You Just, please don’t give up Private services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please give a stranger a special smile. Arrangements by Memorial Alternatives, Bangor.
RAYMOND ‘RAY’ ALBERT CUMMINGS
