Longtime Fair Havenite and 60-year Exxon station owner/operator Raymond J. Miller passed away at his Middletown home on May 10. He was 92.

Born and raised in Bound Brook, Ray graduated from Bound Brook High school in 1940. After high school, he worked at Calco Chemical as a mill right then as a pipefitter.

A World War II U.S. Navy veteran, serving in the 6th Special Construction Battalion (Seabees), Ray was in the 81st Stevedore Battalion serving in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, the Russell Islands and the Philippines.

Ray later moved to Fair Haven where he owned and operated Fair Haven Exxon for six decades. He was a longtime member of NJ Gasoline Retailer’s Association.

As a longtime resident of Fair Haven, Ray was known as an involved community icon. In addition to dedication to the area’s residents through his business that he was known for, he coached Fair Haven Little League and served many terms as president and secretary of the Fair Haven Lion’s Club.

Ray was an avid golfer and poker player. He loved to travel, loved to dance and loved his New York Mets. He lived life to the fullest and always had a good joke and smile at the pumps!

Ray was predeceased by: his father and mother, Lawrence M. Miller and Mary L. Houston Miller; his brothers, Lawrence W. Miller and  Richard Miller; and his sister, Virginia Kruschka.

Ray is survived by: his beloved wife of 67 years, Irene G. Miller; son, Raymond M. Miller; daughter, Audrey Yaffie and son-in-law, Irv Yaffie; daughter Peggy Miller, and son-in-law, Charlie Ryan; and grandson Skyelar Yaffie and granddaughter Sara Yaffie.

There will be a visitation on Friday, May 15, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. There will also be a prayer service on Saturday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m. at the John E. Day Funeral Home 85 Riverside Ave Red Bank. Interment will immediately follow at Fairview cemetery in Middletown, NJ.

Please visit Raymond’s memorial website at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com

— Obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home