Major Raymond Gilman, of Leesburg, FL, was “Promoted to Glory” on November 12, 2018. He was born March 20, 1939 in Oxford, MA to Raymond and Lena (Melanson) Gilman.
For most of his early life, he lived in Manchester, NH; graduating from Manchester High School West in 1957.
In 1958, he married Virginia Lowman, and they were the parents of 3 children; Raymond Bruce (Michelle), David Thomas (Lisa), and Kathleen Joy.
Ray was ordained and commissioned as a Salvation Army officer in 1962. He served for 43 years as an officer in The Salvation Army in Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Alaska, and California. In 2004, he retired and came to live in Leesburg. Everywhere he went, he was loved by the people he served.
Besides his wife and children, he leaves 8 grandchildren: Brittany Wamsley, Raymond Gilman, Joseph Gilman, Joshua Gilman, Justin Gilman, Kevin Gastineau, Kamron Ahmed-Khan, and McKenzie Ware. He also leaves 7 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Surviving also are his six sisters: Dorothy Pruitt, Benita Flanders, Diana Johnson, Paula Gagnon, Patricia Gilman and Roxanne Ramos.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army, Leesburg Corps, PO Box 491265, Leesburg, FL 34749.
