Raymond Thomas Pederson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather on Monday, September 15, 2014. Raymond was born on a farm near Willis, Kansas. He attended a one room schoolhouse along with brother (Lloyd) and sister (Gladys). As a child, he contracted polio, so his career moved away from farming to becoming a teacher. Raymond met Rosalyn Spickelmier, the love of his life and future wife, in high school and they attended Junior College together. At Ray's proposal, she had to resign. Married women weren't allowed to work for the government in 1941. They would spend summers attending Kansas State, where upon graduation, he was elected to Phi Kappa Phi, and spent the next few years as a math teacher, basketball coach, and administrator in Hamlin, Kansas. In 1954, Ray and Rosalyn, along with daughters Connie and Karen moved to San Pedro, California. Son, Terry, was born in 1960. Raymond taught algebra at Wilmington Junior High School from 1954 to 1984. Rosalyn and Ray traveled to Europe, Asia, and throughout the United States. Throughout his life, Ray had a deep love for sports. He played baseball (hence the broken nose), basketball, and later golfed twice a week with dear buddies. He and Rosalyn attended theatre events, Laker Games, church activities, and lots of family celebrations. He will be missed by grandchildren Chelli Bogan (son, Christopher), Kevin Bogan (wife Kim, daughter Kali), Carrie Di Leva (husband Jon, sons Michael and Garret, daughter Sophie), Shannon Mattera (husband John, sons Ford and Wade), granddaughter Paige Pederson, grandson Clayton Pederson. We will celebrate our love for Raymond at 1 o'clock on September 21, 2014 at Rolling Hills Methodist Church.