Raymond Leroy Malotte

Raymond Leroy Malotte, age 106 of Battle Creek passed away peacefully and went to be with his Lord & Savior on Tuesday evening, April 26, 2022.
Raymond was born in Ridgeville, Indiana on December 8, 1915, the loving and devoted son of Roe and Bertha (Carrier) Malotte. The family moved to Augusta, Michigan when Raymond was 10 years old. Four years later, the family moved to Battle Creek. He attended school at Southwestern Junior High School where he played the saxophone, soccer, and tennis, earning a letter in athletics. Raymond graduated from Battle Creek Central High School with the Class of 1935. He signed up for the draft at Firestation #4 on Kendall Street, now the Fire Hub Restaurant. Raymond was deployed to India, and then to Burma with the US Army (Engineer Maintenance Division) during WW II, where he remained until the war ended. Raymond's responsibility while in SE Asia, was to maintain the large equipment that built the Ledo Road, which carried supplies from India to China, through the Himalayas, throughout the duration of the war. He returned to the United States in March of 1946. Shortly after returning from WWII, Raymond began construction on the house that he and his family called home for over 70 years. He loved America and the values for which it stood. He treasured the American flag and patriotism. He was a man of high integrity. He had a strong commitment in striving always to do the right thing. He had impeccable manners, and his word was his bond. He grew up in an era where a handshake served as a promise. Raymond Malotte personified all that is noble and good about mankind. He made the American Dream a reality for himself and his family. Raymond was a member of what Tom Brokaw coined as "the Greatest Generation." Before and after the war, Raymond sang in a local quartet called the MARKSMEN. When he was drafted, the quartet discontinued singing until he returned. They were happy to be back together again doing what they loved...making beautiful music!! They sang for special events in various venues throughout the Battle Creek area for many years. Raymond was a pattern maker. He took designs from engineers, and built patterns that were poured in foundries in order to make castings for pumps that were used all over the world. He built the prototypes for centrifugal and power pumps for oil platforms that pulled oil from under the ocean. The Alaskan pipeline used oil pumps built by Raymond which pumped oil to Fairbanks, AK. He spent 32 years working at Union Pump, first, as a 4 year apprentice, and then as a pattern maker and supervisor. He loved his trade, which required a high level of accuracy and precision. He was a perfectionist!!
Raymond married his high school friend and love, June P. Sherrick on January 17, 1942. She preceded him in death on March 14, 1996. He is survived by his daughters, Carla (Gordon) Pippin of Battle Creek and Marla (George) Miklis of Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren, Tera (Jason) Rehmel, Cincinnati, OH., Tempa Finch, Hixson, TN., Tanya (Bryce) Benbow, Dallas, TX., and Annika (Jason) Evans, Frisco, TX; ten great-grandchildren; two nephews and three nieces. Raymond was also preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Billy J. Malotte.
On June 17, 2021, Raymond Malotte was honored as Calhoun County's oldest gentleman!!!
Raymond was a member of Central Christian Church, where he served as a Deacon, sang in the choir, and up until his passing, was the oldest member of that congregation. In addition to loving great music; classical, big band, Broadway and the beautiful hymns of the church, Raymond was a prolific reader. He appreciated biographies, history, but especially the study of the Civil War. He also enjoyed gardening, hunting partridge and pheasant in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with his English Pointers, fishing, woodworking, cooking, story-telling, good conversations, and reminiscing, but most of all, Raymond loved spending time with his family and having friends stop in. Raymond Malotte is an example of what a well-lived life looks like.
The family of Raymond Malotte would like to express appreciation to the kind and compassionate caregivers at Heritage Assisted Living and Careline Health Group, who attended to our Loved One in his final days.
The family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 3rd at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek. Funeral services to celebrate Raymond's life will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 4th at the Central Christian Church, 713 Riverside Drive Battle Cree, MI 49015. Interment with military honors will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials directed to Central Christian Church, would be appreciated.  The family has created a beautiful picture slideshow nd it may be viewed at https://vimeo.com/706663499.