Cobb, Raymond A.

Raymond Albert Cobb died on March 11, 2023 in Bristol, CT. He was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor Margaret (Lenner), and infant daughter, Melanie Lynn. He was born on September 3, 1931 on his family's farm in Leavenworth County, Kansas, the son of Albert H. and Emma (Grob) Cobb. Growing up on the farm, he had many duties from a very young age, including feeding the livestock, tending the garden and pumping water. He learned to drive the John Deere at age eight. His parents instilled in him the values of hard work, accountability, and respect for one's elders. Raymond attended a one-room schoolhouse in Lenape, KS through the eighth grade. He graduated from Desoto Rural High School in 1949. He excelled at track and football and was Senior Class President. Raymond enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 4, 1952 and was on active duty until February 14, 1954. He then served in the Marine Corps Reserves until 1966, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. His life changed in 1953 when he met Eleanor Lenner on a blind date. It was clearly love at first sight – their seventh “date” was their wedding, on February 13, 1954, at the First Hungarian Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, PA. They were married until her death in 2017. His professional life took him from the farm and an ordinance factory in Kansas to oil fields in Texas and New Mexico, to a steel mill in Bethlehem and to helicopter hangars in Philadelphia. He ultimately retired from Northeast Utilities at the age of 75. He served as chair of the Association of Cost Engineers (AACE) International Cost Estimating Committee and was proud to receive its Distinguished Member Service award in 1993. Raymond was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and of Franklin Lodge #56, Fraternal Order of Freemasons, serving as Master in 1983 and as District Deputy in 1985. He is survived by daughters Melissa Cobb Shakin and her husband, David, of Ossining, NY, and Wendy Cobb Krinitsky and her husband, John, of Libertyville, IL. His grandchildren include Emily Shakin, of Carmel, IN, Nora Krinitsky, of Ann Arbor, MI, Matthew Shakin (Moira), of Philadelphia, PA, Neil Krinitsky (Kathleen), of Tucson, AZ, and Drew Krinitsky of Chicago, IL, and great-grandchildren Olivia and Maverick Krinitsky, Tucson, AZ. He also leaves his sister, Shirley Wyngarden of Vancouver, WA. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Contributions in his memory to the St. Joseph's Indian School, 1301 North Main St., Chamberlain, SD 57325, or to a food bank of your choice. Raymond will be remembered as a man of resolve, integrity, determination, and industriousness. He fought the good fight and will be sorely missed. Semper Fi.