Raymond Ketcham

Captain Raymond Ketcham, US Navy, Ret. passed away at the age of 100 on April 1, 2026 at the Vicar's Health Center in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Ray was born in Brooklyn, NY on January 14, 1926 and raised by his mother Greta Petterson and his Uncle Nils Petterson, both immigrants from Sweden. He grew up in Bay Ridge Brooklyn and graduated from Fort Hamilton High School. Upon graduation, Ray immediately enlisted in the Navy at 17 years old to fight in the Pacific in WWII. 

After the war, Ray married his childhood family friend, Janice Lassen, also a child of immigrants. Post war, Ray was given an exemption to attend Officer Cadet School and continued on to Flight Training to become a Naval Aviator. Later, he transitioned to the Navy Reserves and continued his service through active flight training and missions for the US Navy. Ray and Jan lived in Ithaca, NY while Ray studied and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. Upon graduation, Ray joined Scott Paper Company where he spent his entire civilian career of over 40 years in Human Resources. He later attended and graduated from the Harvard Business School Executive MBA program and finally retired as the Vice President of Industrial and Labor Relations from Kimberly Clark. 

Ray's true passion was always in flying and serving in the Navy. He was trained and flew various jets and he proudly served active reserve duty on weekends and two weeks every year throughout his life, attaining an honorable promotion to Captain e Pueblo prior to his military retirement. During the Pueblos Crisis in 1968, he was activated and led his Squadron VA831 through preparation drills based at NAS Jacksonville for deployment to retrieve the USS Pueblo. 

Ray and Jan resided in Swarthmore, PA for over 40 years and raised their 3 daughters, Susan, Patti and Linda there. Upon Ray's retirement, they became "snowbirds" between West Chester, PA and Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and spent time visiting their daughters and 7 grandchildren, Tommy, Megan, Christopher, Alex (deceased), Lauren, Sara and Allyson. Jan sadly passed in 2004. 

Ray later met Katherine "Kitty" Morris and they were wed in November 2008. Ray and Kitty spent many loving and wonderful years together. They resided in Sawgrass and spent the years creating special memories traveling from Ponte Vedra Beach to their other home in State College, PA, visiting family and friends every chance they got. 

Ray is survived by his wife Kitty, his 3 daughters, 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. 

A private family gathering service will be held in Ponte Vedra Beach. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in his name to Vicars Scholarship Fund.