CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Raymond Houston, 62, of Charleston, passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at his residence from a heart attack. He had been fighting a courageous battle against cancer.

Raymond was born July 28, 1949, in Logan. Preceding him in death was his father, Ernest Houston; his mother, Dandridge Mollett; his stepfather, James Mollett; his mother-in-law, Audrey S. Allen, and his sister-in-law, Felicia G. Allen.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly O. Allen Houston; sons, Raymond M. Houston of New York, N.Y., and Marcus G. Houston of Charleston; sisters, Dr. Brenda Sherrer of Fairfax, Va., and Ernestine (Adonijah) Edwards of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brother, Gary L. Houston of Temple Hills, Md.; aunts, Fannie Mae McVea and Dorothy Branham, both of Gary, Ind., and Shirley Ransome of Philadelphia, Pa.; his father-in-law, Thomas G. Allen of Chattaroy; sisters-in-law, Deborah Ward of Hudson, Ohio, and Alvena (Michael) Elliott of Canton, Ohio; brothers-in-law, Ret. Col. Thomas J. Allen of Woodbridge, Va., and Erwin (Rhonda) Allen of Holland, Ohio, and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other cherished loved ones whose lives he touched.

Raymond graduated from Logan High School in 1967. He began his college education at Marshall University and completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at West Virginia State College in 1993. Always the avid learner, he most recently had been working on a master’s degree in Adult Technical Education at Marshall.

Raymond proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army. He spent time assigned to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and later with the 214th Combat Aviation Battalion during the Vietnam War. He received a number of awards for his military service, including the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Raymond demonstrated hard work and determination in his early teen years by delivering the Charleston Gazette newspaper. Professionally, many will remember Raymond in his role as a longtime manager of various Kroger supermarkets in the Tri-State area, including Ironton, Williamson, Huntington, and Charleston, as well as manager of stores for the Tradewell and Foodland supermarket chains. After leaving the grocery store business, Raymond worked in produce at Corey Brothers Inc. of Charleston, where he eventually became Head Buyer for the company. After leaving Corey’s, he worked for a number of years at Allstate Insurance Company, where he served as a Senior Claims Adjuster. After Allstate, he worked for the law offices of Hunt & Serreno of Charleston as a Personal Injury Specialist. He most recently worked and retired from G.C. Services of Huntington.

Raymond also spent a number of years actively involved with the Midwestern Little League of Charleston where he served as a team coach and manager, and later as president.

The family would like to express sincere gratitude to Patty Scaggs and Drs. Smith, Sharma, and Kimmey, all of Huntington, Dr. John Burdette of Charleston, Huntington Internal Medicine Group, St. Mary’s Medical Center of Huntington, St. Francis Memorial Hospital of Charleston, and Charleston Fire Department Station No. 2. The family also would like to send a special thank you to all of Raymond’s extended family, friends, and caregivers for all the kind and compassionate words and actions that were given to Raymond during his time of illness, and to the family as we mourn his passing and celebrate his life.

Services will be held at noon Tuesday, November 29, at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1530 Third Avenue, Charleston, with Rev. Braxton Broady officiating.

Friends will be received at the church one hour prior to the funeral service on Tuesday.

Flowers should be sent to the church and donations for the family can be sent to Gregory Funeral Home, 514 Harvey Street, Williamson, WV 25661. Donations can be made in Raymond’s name to the American Cancer Society.

Gregory Funeral Home of Williamson is in charge of the arrangements.