Raymond C. Bottles' Obituary
Raymond Charles Bottles, age 81, of Grafton, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake.
He was born March 7, 1941, in Toledo to the late Donald S. and Neomi Bottles.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cathey (nee Barton); son, Brett (Rebecca) Bottles; daughter, Dr. Rebecca (Dr. Jonathon) Dehart, son Todd (Gina) Skelton and his sister, Joann Tucholski.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, Donald S on July 8, 1988, and Neomi on July 10, 1994; and his brother, Don in March 2013.
Born in East Toledo and raised into a railroad family. His grandfather, father and uncles worked for the New York Central System and at one time his mother (she was in housekeeping), sister (ticket office) and brother (maintenance of way) also worked the New York Central System. In fact, 12 family members worked for NYC. His grandfather, Wesley J, a switchman at Air Line Junction from 1899-1948 chased him off the Michigan Central railroad tracks behind his home in Toledo on Upton Avenue near Champion Spark Plug in 1948 at the age of seven years. He never stopped going back to the railroad, his first love. He graduated from Libbey High School in January of 1960. His father Donald Samuel, a lieutenant of police for the New York Central System and his mentor took him to the New York Central System in May of 1959 when he was a junior at Libbey High School and got him a summer job as a locomotive fireman. After he graduated in January 1960, he transferred to train service. He worked four years and was drafted by the United States Army in October 1963. He served two years during the Vietnam War. The Army sent his unit to Vietnam from El Paso, Texas in 1965. He was honorably discharged in October 1965 and returned to the New York Central System. He held various union positions with the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 397, and the United Transportation Union Local Numbers 550 and 2. He was a passenger train advocate and when Penn Central discontinued their passenger trains in 1971 he presented signed petitions to Senator William Saybe from Ohio to restore passenger service. He was the formal regional chairman for the National Association of Railroad Passenger (NARP). Ray worked on four different railroads NYC, PC, Conrail and CSX from May of 1959 until September 2009. Working for over 50 years as a conductor. Prior employment with the railroad, he was a rail fan for ten years.
He was the last brakeman on the world-famous passenger train operated by the New York Central System. The 20th Century Limited operated from June 1902 until December 2, 1967. Sixty-five glorious years. Ray worked for the 20th Century Limited between Toledo and Buffalo, New York.
Mr. Bottles had a unique childhood as his father took him everywhere, rail yards, switch towers and his favorite place the former New York Central System Roundhouse on Fearing Blvd. where the Sears Service Center is today. He rode on all the former steam locomotives Mohawks, Hudsons and the Niagras.
His favorite weighing over 410 tons. When he was twelve in 1953, the legendary trainman hung out at NYC’s Swan Creek Tower at the east end of the Air Line Junction yard and helped operator Gilbert Souls operate switch levers for train movements and took pictures of passing trains. Occasionally on weekends his father took him to the Central Union Terminal, and he would ride the New York Central “old road” train number 807 to Elkhart, Indiana via the former Lake Shore and Michigan Southern (LS & MS) and returned to Toledo train number 822 the same day. New York Central discontinued passenger trains on November 19, 1956. Mr. Bottles helped handle baggage in the baggage car with trainman Packard.
Ray and his family moved to Grafton, Ohio in 1978. He worked former NYC”s Fairlane Yard in Lorain County for 21 years. In June 1999 with 40 years when Conrail was split, he chose to finish his last 10 years working for CSX Transportation at Collinwood Yard on Cleveland’s east side. On August 26, 1999, he did the national unveiling of the All Aboard train stamps at the Cleveland Convention Center for the United State Postal Service honoring the 20th Century Limited plus four other passenger trains. When Mr. Bottles unveiled the stamps, it was the first day of issue. Then in May of 2013, he was invited to Grand Central Terminal in New York City for the 100th Anniversary of GCT with two other former New York Central Railroad employees. He and his former employees appeared in the front page of the Wall Street Journal on May 12, 2013.
Mr. Bottles was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Grafton. He was also a member of the New York Central System and Historical Society.
The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 PM Thursday Dec 15, 2022 at Bogner Family Funeral Home 36625 Center Ridge Rd. North Ridgeville, Ohio 44039. Services will be held 12:30 PM Friday at Bethel Luteran Church 1853 South Ave. Toledo where friends may call from 11:30 AM until time of service. Rev. Tim Rothfuss will officiate. Burial will follow in Lake Township Cemetery, Toledo along the NYC railroad tracks, with military honors by the US Army.
Ray also loved animals, therefore memorial contributions are suggested to Animal Protective League of Toledo or Elyria.
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