Raymond L. Custard

Raymond L. Custard, 94, of Brighton Twp., passed away peacefully Thursday, April 4, 2019 with his family at his side, closing the book on a life of innovation and adventure.

Born June 25, 1924 in Sharon, he was a son of the late Ray E. and Lena Lewis Custard.  A talented student, Ray graduated from Sharon High School in June of 1942 while WWII was brewing in Europe.  He completed one semester at Ohio Northern before being called by Uncle Sam to serve in the U.S. Army.  His high scores in the Army Generalized Classification Test sent him to North Carolina State College to participate in the ASTP Pre Engineering Program for three semesters before being interrupted again to sail to France to fight at the front.  As part of the 87 ^th Acorn Division, Ray fought in the Battle of the Bulge, earning several medals including the Bronze Star.

Returning home in 1946, Ray entered Purdue University to complete his engineering degree.  He was hired in the summer of 1948 as an Engineer in Training at the Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric.  Before returning to Purdue to complete his senior year, he accepted a job as a Junior Development Engineer with Westinghouse.  One of Ray’s favorite memories of his time at Purdue comes from his last semester when as a senior, he had to share his dorm room with an incoming freshman.  He recounts how he drove him crazy, especially when he practiced his French Horn.  Fortunately, he was moved to another dorm room before the semester was over.  That freshman became the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong.

Ray began his storied career with Westinghouse in February of 1949.  His first assignment was in the development group.  He was quickly promoted through the years, from Senior Engineer to Division Controller at Standard Control Division to Vice President of Management Systems Corporation, a subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric.  Ray served in this capacity until his retirement in 1989, culminating a career of 40 years with the Pittsburgh based corporation.

A member of the Pymatuning Yacht Club, Ray enjoyed sailing with his wife Peggy and three children Keith, Craig, and Lisa. He also enjoyed cooking, and as a self-proclaimed computer geek, could be found doing graphics and engraving trophies with a laser engraver.  Ray was a faithful member of the Beaver United Methodist Church, Beaver.

In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Peggy Jean Wimmer Custard in 2014, and son-in-law, Nicholas Majerchik in 2011.

He will be greatly missed by his two sons, Keith Custard, Brighton Twp. and Craig (Debbie) Custard, Valrico, FL; a daughter, Lisa Majerchik, New Cumberland; two grandsons, Patrick Custard, Nantucket, MA, and Behn (Genna) Custard, all of Valrico, FL; and two great-grandchildren, Dylan and Madeline Custard.

Cremation services were entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver.  A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date, with interment with full military honors, to take place at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville.  Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to Penn State Beaver, Development Office, 100 University Drive, Monaca, PA 15061 or to Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907.