Dr Raymond C. Dyer

Colonel Raymond “Doc” Dyer, US Army Ret., lived 96 remarkable years until he passed away Monday evening with family by his side. He grew up in Warren during the Great Depression and was always careful not to waste anything. Like so many others of his day, he joined the US Navy in WWII and fought in the Pacific, including the occupation of Japan, igniting a passion for world travel that would later shape his life. After the war he attended Georgetown University Dental School on the GI bill where he met and married the late Virginia (Tiernan) Dyer. They settled in Bristol to raise four children; Elizabeth Rose Hedden (Mark), Patricia Dyer Saimond (Mike), Judith Marie Dyer and LTC. Michael Francis Dyer, US Army Ret. (Nancy). Love of family drew him to visit his children around the world and even led him to accompany President and Mrs. Reagan to see his son in Japan in 1989. He practiced dentistry in Bristol for almost 40 years, while serving in the Army Reserves until retiring as a Colonel in 1979. At 70 and always up for new experiences, Ray joined his daughters in the classroom launching his second career as an educator. He transformed classrooms all over RI, MA and CT into far off places like Morocco, Chile, Siberia and the Amazon. He devoted countless hours to perfecting interactive lessons with artifacts from around the world so that children could not only see pictures of other cultures, but experience some of their most unique aspects. His exploits led him on countless adventures including riding camels in Egypt, swimming in the Dead Sea, and catching piranhas in the Amazon. A lifelong learner, he read the New York Times daily and intelligently discussed world events up until the end of his life. He was a steadfast proponent of exercise for himself and also encouraged his children and seven grandchildren to do the same. He started running marathons at the age of 58, competed in triathlons in his 70s and swam a half mile in Narragansett Bay into his late 80s. His favorite place in the world was Colt State Park where he ran and more recently walked with other park visitors. In addition to his four children, he also leaves his seven grandchildren, Samantha Hedden, Rebecca Sutphen (Robert), Jeffrey Hedden (Shuwen), Cassandra Saimond, Timothy Saimond, Curtis Dyer and Emily Almonte. He was also preceded in death by a brother, John Dyer. Funeral services from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood Street, Bristol, Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 10:00 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM in St. Marys Church, 330 Wood Street, Bristol. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Marys Cemetery, Chestnut Street, Bristol. Visiting hours, Friday, August 26, 2016 from 4:00-7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, Ray would prefer donations for a new bench at Colt State Park in order to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Donations to the “Doc Dyer Bench Fund”, 7 Westwood Road, Bristol, RI 02809, would be deeply appreciated. For online condolences, shared memories, information directions go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com

Service Information Cemetery St. Mary's Cemetery Chestnut Street Bristol, RI --> Visitation Friday August 26, 2016 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Sansone Funeral Home 192 Wood Street Bristol, RI 02809 --> Service Saturday August 27, 2016 11:00 AM St. Mary's Church 330 Wood St. Bristol, RI -->