Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
FAYETTEVILLE — Raymond Wesson Eitelman,
age 82, of Fayetteville passed away Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. He was born March 30, 1938, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Edward and Ardelle Ward Eitelman.
Ray was preceded in death by wife Patsy, daughter Laura Eitelman and brother Edward Eitelman.
He was a member of University Baptist Church in Fayetteville. Ray and wife Patsy served as missionaries with the International Mission Board where they gave their lives willingly for the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and saw at least 10,000 baptized and 190 churches established.
In their 35 years of mission service in West Africa, Ray wore out six motorcycles on the West African roads, riding the equivalent of 16 times around the world during their 25 years of service in Togo and 10 years in Burkina Faso.
It was also there that they buried daughter Laura, who preceded them in death at 15 years old. The couples’ retirement years didn’t include riding into the sunset on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but were enjoyed at Butterfield Trail Village.
Ray is survived by daughter Julie Yngsdal and husband David of Durban, South Africa; sister Jean Ardelle Unger; brother Miley Barrett Eitelman; grandchildren Mariah, Wesley, Corey and Cameron, who live in North Carolina, California, Mississippi and Virginia, respectively; great grandchildren Elizabeth and Elianna; sister Jean Unger, whose husband John is deceased of Portland, Ore., with her son and family; brother Barry Eitelman of Abilene, Texas, with wife Betty and their children and grandchildren; sister-in-law Lea Eitelman and children, Edward, Bob and Bill and their spouses and children and grandchildren.
Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, at Moore’s Chapel. Funeral service will be noon Saturday at University Baptist Church in Fayetteville with interment to follow in Brashears Cemetery, near St. Paul, Ark. In lieu of flowers memorials can be sent to the International Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, Va., 23230. To place an online tribute, please visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com .