Ray E. Bashore

Ray Edward Bashore, 90, died Wednesday, July 18, 2018 in Manor Care, Lebanon. 

He was born November 18, 1927 on a farm in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County to Nathan John and Lucy (Gingrich) Bashore.  Ray was the youngest of his family being predeceased by brothers Herman L. Bashore, John W. Bashore and Earl G. Bashore, sisters Mary Wagner Kuntz and Verna May Hilsher and two nephews.  He is survived by 16 caring nieces and nephews.

The highlight of Ray’s life was living and working on the family farm, now Wheatstone on South Lingle Avenue, Palmyra.  He most enjoyed driving the trucks and tractors for hay baling and plowing.  His least favorite work was picking up potatoes, bushel after bushel, on 60-acres of his father’s 80-acre farm.  Ray’s father was nick-named Bashore, The Potato Man.  The older sons, with their father, delivered potatoes throughout Harrisburg City and sold them every week at Market.  Ray accompanied his Dad on market days.

Ray’s hobby was collecting toy cars, trucks and models of American-made vehicles. He made scrapbooks and visited the Lebanon library regularly to learn more from pictures and having articles read to him in spite of his learning disability.  He could name most American-made cars by their insignias or features.  He often went to Carlisle car shows.  Ray also looked forward to the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

He was a member of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren, and later attended St. John’s United Methodist Church, Grantville for 19 years where he also sang in the church choir.  Ray lived in several group homes as an older adult and arrangements were always made that he could attend weekly services close to his group homes.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Monday, July 23, 2018 with visitation from 1:00 – 2:00 PM at Hanoverdale Church, 577 Hershey Road (Route 39), Hummelstown.  Interment will be in Hanoverdale Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and contributions pay forward random acts of kindness.  This is in keeping with Ray’s kind and gentle nature.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ray E. Bashore, please visit our floral store.