Obituary of Raymond W. Lerche

Raymond W. Lerche Endicott: Raymond W. Lerche, born February 20, 1937, passed away on April 12, 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents Bertie and Edith Corson, paternal grandparents Fred and Lena Lerche, father Frank Lerche and mother Luella Mae Corson Lerche Herman, brother Ronald Frank Lerche, stepfather Richard Herman. He is survived by his wife of 36 years Linda Lerche, ex-wife Carole Porterfield Silvernail, son Daniel Lerche and his wife Sharon, daughter Pamela Lerche, son Stephen Lerche and his wife Kelly, special stepdaughter Tara Mancinelli, and her two special boys Anthony and Adam, brother Richard Herman and wife Donna, brother Russell Herman and his wife Judy, sister-in-law Andrea Barnes and her husband Bob, eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Ray was employed by IBM for 36 years as a quality control inspector. He was a Habitat For Humanity volunteer for 10 years and volunteered for 19 years as an income tax preparer for AARP. He also participated in the McDonald's Old Farts Coffee Klatch for 20 years. Ray, beloved husband, father, grandfather, Poppy, and great-grandfather gave willingly, cheerfully, and enthusiastically of his time and talents to family, friends, neighbors and church. An unassuming man with a dry wit, he never complained even through years of challenging cancer treatments. He loved words, their origin, usage, and pronunciation, and had multiple dictionaries. He challenged himself every Sunday with "Frame Games" in the USA Weekend. He would probably be surprised by the volume of loving memories being shared with his passing, but it is not surprising to those who knew and loved him. Ray's family expresses its deepest appreciation and thanks to the staff of South Tower 4 at Wilson Memorial Hospital, Dr. Tvetenstrand, Dr. Yalamanchili and the staff of Broome Oncology for their consistently kind and compassionate care. I don't know what happened - where are our future years? I don't know what happened - there are oh so many tears. I don't know what happened - it's over much too fast. I don't know what happened - we couldn't make it last. I don't know what happened - but this I surely know, our living, loving, laughing so deep within my heart - we'll never part. Funeral Services for Raymond will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. from the Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home 300 E. Main St. Endicott with the Rev. Kenneth Wood officiating. Interment services will follow in Vestal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive their friends on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Habitat for Humanity, Holy Nativity Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society.