William George Raymond

Bill Raymond passed away in his home in Sonoma, California, on March 2nd, 2025 after a prolonged illness.

Bill was born in Berkeley, California in 1944 to William G Raymond Sr. and Audrey Gale (Provis) Raymond.  He moved with his parents and older sister, Virginia (Ginny), to Sonoma in 1951 where he attended Prestwood Elementary and Sonoma High School.

Athletics played a large part in his school years: he excelled at pole vaulting and baseball with the Dragons, and as a semi-pro with the Santa Rosa Elks. In adulthood he found a like-minded group of fellow passionate tennis players in Carmel, who became lifelong, cherished friends.

In 1965, during the Vietnam War, he was drafted into the army and served in Germany as a military police officer. After his honorable discharge from the army he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as a teaching credential for Special Education at Sonoma State College.

He then lived for 25 beautiful years in Carmel, doing social work. He loved being so close to the ocean.

In his late fifties he returned to Sonoma and started to travel extensively: first in Asia and later in Europe. He met a treasured group of friends, fellow travelers, from all over Europe, and it was here that he found the love of his life, Susanna Woehr.

His life was profoundly influenced by the teachings of J. Krishnamurti, and deeply inspired by the beauty of the natural world. He lived a contemplative life, carried a never ending curiosity about everything, and a contagious playfulness. Many people regarded the conversations with him as a gift, and kindness, patience, and a quiet presence radiated out of him.

He is survived by his wife Susanna, his sister Ginny Mackey, his nieces Michelle Skinner, and Tiffany Mackey.

He will be dearly missed.

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