Raymond Wesson Eitelman's Obituary
Raymond Wesson Eitelman, age 82, of Fayetteville passed away Monday November 16, 2020. He was born March 30, 1938 in Fort Worth, Texas to Edward and Ardelle Ward Eitelman. Ray was preceded in death by his wife Patsy, one daughter, Laura Eitelman and his brother, Edward Eitelman. He is a member of University Baptist Church in Fayetteville. Ray and his wife, Patsy served as missionaries with the International Mission Board where they gave their lives willingly for the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and saw at least 10,000 baptized and 190 churches established. In their 35 years of mission service in West Africa, Ray wore out six motorcycles on the West African roads, riding the equivalent of 16 times around the world during their 25 years of service in Togo and 10 years in Burkina Faso. It was also there that they buried a daughter, Laura, who preceded them in death at 15 years old. The couples’ retirement years did not include riding into the sunset on Harley Davidson motorcycles, but were enjoyed at Butterfield Trail Village.
Ray is survived by his daughter, Julie Yngsdal and her husband David of Durban, South Africa; sister, Jean Ardelle Unger; brother, Miley Barrett Eitelman; four grandchildren, Mariah, Wesley, Corey and Cameron, who live in North Carolina, California, Mississippi and Virginia, respectively. Ray also had two great grandchildren, Elizabeth and Elianna.
Ray is also survived by his younger sister, Jean Unger whose husband John is deceased of Portland, Oregon with her son and family. He is also survived by his younger brother, Barry Eitelman of Abilene, Texas, with his wife Betty, and their children and grandchildren. Ray’s older brother, Ed is deceased leaving his wife Lea and her children, Edward, Bob and Bill and their spouses and children and grandchildren.
Visitation will be 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Friday November 20, 2020 at Moore’s Chapel. Funeral service will be 12:00 pm Saturday at University Baptist Church in Fayetteville with interment to follow in Brashears Cemetery near St. Paul, Arkansas.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be sent to the International Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, Virginia 23230.
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