Dr. Raymond E. Beitzel, age 91, passed away on Friday, Dec 4, 2015 at Brookdale, Troy, with the loving help of Brookdale staff, Kindred Hospice, and family at his side.

He was born Jan 11, 1924 to the late William and Jessie Beitzel. Meeting her at The Ohio State University, he married, in 1947, Jean Tannehill, "the love of his life", who preceded him in death in 1991.

Raymond is survived by sons David (and Kim) Beitzel of Troy, Douglas Beitzel of Troy, and daughter, Amy (and Paul) Shelton of St Louis, MO. An infant son, Bruce, preceded him in death in 1952. He is also survived by grandchildren Benjamin (and Lorrie) Beitzel of Atlanta, Mary Shelton of Denver, Christopher Shelton of Chicago, step grandchildren Chad (and Lauren) Wortman of Charlotte, Nathan Wortman of Columbus, and step great grandchildren Owen and Landon Wortman of Columbus.

In addition to his parents, wife and son, Raymond was preceded in death by a brother, William Beitzel, and second wife, Phyllis (Horseman) in 2013, who he met through his involvement with the Antioch Shrine.

Raymond attended school in New Philadelphia, Ohio. He then attended The Ohio State University for both undergraduate and Medical School, while serving in the US Army during WWII.

Upon the end of the war, he completed an internship in Youngstown, Ohio. When hostilities began in Korea, he again donned the uniform of the United States Army serving as a medical officer stationed in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

When the Korean War ended, he returned to the states and pursued further internships, residencies and post graduate activities in Buffalo, New York, Cambridge, Toledo and Columbus, Ohio. He focused on internal medicine, ultimately becoming board certified. In 1956, he began the private practice of medicine in the rural community of Paris, Illinois. There, he was truly a "Doc" of the old school carrying a black bag and making house calls. Health insurance not being available to so many, he was often paid with bushels of produce left at the front door during harvest time.

In 1962, he returned to Ohio settling in Dayton where his brother, Bill, resided, opening his office in Oakwood where it remained until his retirement. For many years, patients from Paris would travel to Dayton to have their annual physicals with Doc. He also was an original physician of the group that operated the emergency room in the newly opened Kettering Medical Center.

He was a member of his local Masonic Lodge, a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Antioch Shrine Temple, being very active with the Shrine in the medical and other units.

A memorial service and interment of ashes will be held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Fisher-Cheney Funeral Home, Troy. Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to: Office of Development, Shriners Hospitals, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.

Our family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale/Sterling House of Troy for the love and tender care you gave "Doc", during his years with you. We are so grateful.