Raymond H. Rhode Jr. (Ray) was born to Raymond and Ruth Rhode in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 19th, 1943. He was the eldest of five children; two brothers, Richard and Keith, and two sisters, Barbara and Kathleen. Ray was an Honor Graduate from De La Salle High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Southwestern Louisiana. While at the University, he met Nancy Jones and after completing their degrees and Ray's commissioning in the United States Air Force, they were married on November 27, 1965. They were blessed with two children: a son, Raymond Christopher, and a daughter, Karen Elizabeth.

During Ray's twenty-year career, he served as an aircraft maintenance officer, an acquisition program manager, a systems engineer, and a scientific and technology intelligence analyst and he earned a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He retired from the Air Force with the rank of Major in 1985. His awards include the Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and three Presidential Unit Citations. Following retirement, Ray worked for several years for a systems engineering contractor supporting acquisition program offices at Eglin Air Force Base.

During their thirty years in Niceville, Florida, Ray and Nancy made many wonderful and lasting friendships and enjoyed many adventures aboard their 35-foot sailboat, JOURNEY. In 2017, declining health and advancing age prompted a move to Casselberry, Florida to be close to the children and grandchildren. In January 2020, Nancy died peacefully at home with Ray at her side.

Ray is survived by his brothers, Richard Rhode and Keith Rhode, and his sisters, Barbara Faucheux and Kathleen Desselle. He is also survived by his son, Raymond C. Rhode; his wife, Yvette; and their two daughters, Morgan and Madison, as well as his daughter, Karen Antalek, her husband, Eric, and their two sons, Ryan and Benjamin.

Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at DeGusipe Funeral Home located at 9001 North Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida 32751. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 10:00 am at Annunciation Catholic Church located at 1020 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714. A brief Committal ceremony will be held at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery located on US-1 in Mims, Florida at 1:00 pm. All are welcome to attend and celebrate the life of our honored Raymond.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center, 1410 Gene Street, Winter Park, Florida 32789 would be appreciated.