Joseph Edward Raynor, 95, of 1217 River Road, Suffolk, entered into rest with the Lord on Saturday, May 29, 2004, in Obici Hospital.

He was born on Aug. 11, 1908, in Powellsville, Bertie County, N.C., and lived most of his adult life in the Norfolk and Suffolk areas.

He was a son of the late Morton L. and Hattie Parker Raynor. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his loving wife of 72 years, Christine Bittner Raynor (his &uot;Angel Eyes&uot;); an infant daughter, Betty Lou Raynor; a sister, Alice Raynor Dilday; a brother, Morton L. Raynor Jr.; and two nephews, Thomas Howard Dilday and Morton L. Raynor III.

Survivors include: two nephews, Lockhart Dilday, and wife, Willanette, of Carrollton, Md.; and Lacey LaMar Dilday of San Diego, Calif.; a niece, Judy Raynor Debellis, and husband, Mike, of Bellevue, Wash.; a niece, Louise Dilday, of Arrowhead, N.C.; his wife’s sisters, Ivy Bittner Hollowell, and daughter, Elaine Vann Jones of Suffolk, and son, Eley B. Vann, and wife, Lisa, of Greenville, S.C.; and Merlynne Biittner Powell, and son, Herbert Allen Powell II, and wife, JoAnn, of Norfolk; two nephews, Ralph A. Biittner, and wife, Virginia, of Virginia Beach, and Charles T. Biittner, and special friend, Patty Cope, of Claremont; a niece, Mary Margaret Simmons, and husband, Jackie, of Moyock, N.C.; a number of great nieces and nephews; and long-time devoted couple and special friends, Wilbur and Norma Morris Jr.

&uot;Ed&uot; Raynor served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and had retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Moore Sunday School Class. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Fraternity Nansemond Lodge No. 77, life member of the Khedive Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. (lifetime member of the Khedive Clown Unit), and 50-year member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Norfolk. He was a 50-year Pythian Veteran and 50-yearWoodmen of the World. He was a member of the Suffolk Shrine Club and Sinai Chapter No. 18 Order of the Eastern Star.

Because of special bearded facial features he was often called Colonel Sanders. and at Christmastime enjoyed the role of Santa Claus. He loved people and traveling and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

The graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens with Dr. David Chauncey, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to American Diabetes Association, Nansemond Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad, or to a charity of your choice.

Harrell Hill Funeral Home is handling arrangements.