Raymond Pruss

Raymond Pruss, known to his loved ones as 'Pappy,' 86, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, after a year of battles that would've taken down a lesser man-cheating death more than once and proving, as always, that he was a man full of surprises. It was this same iron will that defined him throughout his life.

Ray was born in Central City, PA, right on the family farm. The youngest of 11 children, Ray was lovingly known as the baby of the family. It was there that he met his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Wanda. Together, they moved to Bucks County and eventually settled in Newtown, PA, where they raised four daughters.

Ray built a career of working with his hands and his mind. He spent years working as a boilermaker for US Steel as well as starting his own metal fabrication company, R&T Fabricators, turning his deep knowledge of steel, structure, and problem-solving into a successful business.

Long before Google existed, Ray was our personal search engine and GPS rolled into one-he knew something about everything and could give turn-by-turn directions to anywhere, from memory, with a story about every road along the way. He always had a shortcut... though his family quickly learned that Pappy's shortcuts usually meant taking the long way, with plenty of scenic detours and stories along the ride.

Pappy had the unique gift of storytelling. Whether his tales were rooted in fact or a little bit of imagination, he could always entertain for hours. He loved long country drives, family cookouts and treasure hunting. He loved the land he lived on-watching deer at dusk, tinkering in the yard, or mowing the grass on his favorite Ford tractor, "Big Blue." He had a way of turning ordinary moments into something memorable. We like to picture him now, riding across the fields "with a smile on his face and a song in his heart."

Ray is predeceased by his loving wife Wanda, his daughter Kristie Turner and his granddaughter Stephanie Bye. He is survived by his daughters, Laura Silva and spouse Jeff, Cherie Bye and spouse Helmut, and Karen Pruss, as well as grandchildren, Jeffrey Silva and spouse Alisa, Nick Silva and spouse Laurie; Anthony Piccari and spouse Kassidee; Kimberly Bye and Nick Cotton; Emily Ferragut and spouse Johnny; Christopher Marut, Daniel Richmond and spouse Kaitlyn; and Jessica Richmond and Will. As well as his nine great-grandchildren. Ray looked forward to reuniting with his beloved wife, Wanda-and now, at last, they're together again. As they look down on us, take a country drive in their memory, maybe even a shortcut home-just the way Ray would've done it.

Revelations 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.