CHAMPION, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) - Raymond Kwiatkowski, 88, passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at Windsor House of Champion.
He was born as one of identical twins on September 8, 1936 in North Bloomfield on the farm, the son of John and Stella Kwiatkowski.
He grew up on a farm in Orwell and graduated from Grand Valley High School class of 1955.
He proudly served his country in the United States Army.
He then graduated from barber school, alongside his brother, Eddie; they ran a barber shop in Cleveland, Ohio. He later started at General Motors, Fisher Body’s plant in Euclid and transferred to the Lordstown plant upon its opening until he retired in 2004 after 39 years.
He raised his children, Richard, Raymond, Sondra and John on a dairy farm in Orwell, retiring in 2002.
He relocated to Champion where he met Shirley Farmer and married on May 29, 2004. He was affectionately known as “Ray K” to the Farmer family and they took him and his family in as they were always together.
Ray was an avid bowler and belonged to numerous leagues in Warren throughout the years, along with making annual trips to the UAW bowling tournaments.
Ray was preceded in death by his brothers, Richard, Victor and Edward; sister, Stella; parents, John and Stella; son, Richard; Ray’s wife, the mother of his children, Elizabeth Carol Romansky; wife, Iva Rhodes; the love of his life, Shirley Farmer; stepchildren, Ronald, Richard and Ford Farmer and a stepgrandson, Todd Schaffer.
He is survived by his children, Raymond (Denise) Kwiatkowski of Florida, Sondra (Duane) Jackson of North Bloomfield and John Kwiatkowski; grandchildren, James Jackson, Jessica Hammon and Phillip Kwiatkowski; stepchildren, Shirley Ann (Ray) Young, Jim (Vickie) Farmer, Phillip (Debbie) Farmer, Connie (Gary) Silvernail, Bob (Michele) Farmer, Sheila, Kim and Terri; 33 stepgrandchildren; 22 stepgreat-grandchildren and one stepgreat-great-granddaughter
Visitation will be held from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, at St. Mary Church, 103 N. Maple Street, Orwell, Ohio with a Funeral Mass to follow at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Mary Church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Carl W. Hall Funeral Home.
A television tribute will air Tuesday, April 22 at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.