Raymond E. Toms, Jr., age 85, died at his home in Deltaville, VA from injuries suffered in an auto accident on December 7. Ray is survived by his wife of 63 years, Pat Toms; his three daughters, Sara Spoerri of Capitan, NM, Anne Richardson of Norfolk and Kenney Cobb of Richmond; two sons, Lewis of Charlotte, NC, and Michael of Charlottesville; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Ray was in his first year at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now known as Virginia Tech) when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was 17 years old at the time and tried to enlist in the Marine Corps but was turned down because of his age. After completing two years at VPI, he enlisted in the Marines, trained as a navigator/bombardier on B-25 Mitchell bombers and deployed with VMB-443 to the South Pacific. While stationed in the Bismarck Archipelago, he flew 45 combat missions, primarily against Japanese bases on the north shore of Papua New Guinea. Ray was awarded the Marine Corps Air Medal for gallantry in battle for raids in 1944 and 1945. Following his discharge from the Marines, Ray married Pat and returned to VPI to complete his Civil Engineering degree. He was working in Charleston, WV, when he was recalled to active duty in the Marines, again as a navigator, this time ferrying wounded and supplies from Japan to the U.S. After this tour of duty, Ray began his career in mechanical equipment sales and service in Roanoke, VA, and then with Shultz and James in Richmond, VA. He ended his career with the US Army Quartermaster Corps at Fort Lee. In 1988, Ray and Pat retired to Deltaville and he could see his sailboat at the FBYC dock from his trophy-filled home on Jackson Creek.

When Ray was growing up in Chevy Chase, MD, he was introduced to the sport of sailing and his passion for competitive sailing never left him. Ray and Pat joined Fishing Bay Yacht Club in September 1964. He raced his Ranger 26 White Cap, often with a mix of his five children as crew, and won numerous trophies on the Chesaspeake, at FBYC and in Hampton and Annapolis. Ray helped launch the one design Front Runner sailboat class. He and Bill Spencer went to Rhode Island where the prototype of the boat was being built to be sure it was being built to specifications. Ray frequently traveled to boat shows to promote the boat. Ray crewed as navigator for Bill Spencer for many years on Short Circuit, Resurrection and White Lightning in club races and racing events as far away as Florida. His favorite race was the Annapolis to Hampton Down-the-Bay Race. Ray also often served on race committee and helped with many offshore sailboat deliveries. For his 80th birthday, Ray rode on Mr. Roberts with the race committee from the club to Rosegill. When they arrived at Rosegill, Pat had to back the car down the hill to the dock because Ray was not able to climb the hill. That was likely the last time he was ever out on Mr. Roberts.

Ray was a “volunteer” for many activities and events. He volunteered as treasurer of the Friends of the Library in Middlesex County for 15 years, he donated over 100 pints of blood in the years he lived in Deltaville, and he played Santa in the annual Walkerton, VA Christmas parade. About 1992, he took on the volunteer job of overseeing the water system for FBYC. There were few days that he didn’t go to the club to check on the system or collect water samples for the Department of Health. In 2003 when he finally found it necessary to ask to be replaced with another water system operator, the club showed its appreciation by electing Ray and Pat to Life Membership in FBYC.

Ray served on the FBYC Board as Pool Chairman in 1970 overseeing the installation of the swimming pool, Docks and Grounds Chairman in 1971, Fleet Captain in 1972, and Cruising Class Division Commander in 1976. In 1996, he was awarded the Matthew Fontaine Maury Bowl and it was this award that he was the most proud of winning. When the awards party was held in October 1996, Ray was at the MORC Internationals at Davis Yacht Club in Tampa, FL. On that Saturday night at DYC, FBYC member Mike Karn told the MORC group that the FBYC awards party was being held in Richmond that night. He explained that the most coveted perpetual trophy was the Maury Bowl, which was awarded annually for outstanding contributions to FBYC. He then surprised Ray by announcing that Ray Toms was the 1996 recipient and that Pat was at the awards party to pick up the trophy for him. Ray served FBYC in many different ways over the years with no thought for personal recognition, and he will be missed.

A Memorial Service for Ray will be held at the Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home in Saluda, VA, 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 13, 2009. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in memory of Raymond Toms to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 1108 East Main Street, Suite 1600, Richmond, VA 23219.

REQUIESCAT IN PACE