Raymond Clayton Fink, of Beverly Hills peacefully left us on Sunday, December 13th, 2020, at home following an issue with his heart. He was 88 years old. He had a sense of humor, a love of the land, was quick with a joke, had a strong handshake, and lived with his commitment to family and friends. He loved to work with his hands and help others and enjoyed taking vacations with his family.
Ray was born on August 2, 1932, in York County, PA, the third child of Raymond H. and Mary P. Fink, who were lifelong farmers. Ray, known to his family and friends as “Sonny”, spent his youth working hard on the farm. Summers were spent planting and harvesting crops, “bringing in the hay”, tending to livestock, and he continued that effort throughout his adult years.
He married Madeleine, “Maggie” Wert in June of 1953, and went to work for the American Can Company in Lemoyne, PA, with an entry-level position. He educated himself and became a mechanic rebuilding can lines and advanced himself to the level of machinist, the highest position in can production machining the parts needed to create various sizes of cans. Work at the can company escalated in the summer months as did the work on the farm. He frequently put in over 90 hours a week at the can company and spent many more hours of physical work assisting his parents with the farm until they sold it in 1973. Hard work didn’t scare Ray!
After retirement he moved to Florida in 1984 with Maggie where they built a home, created a lawn cutting business, and joined the Elks lodge in Inverness which became his passion for the remainder of his life. Ray embraced the Elks, went through all of the Chairs, served a term as Exaulted Ruler in 1993/1994 where he spent the year committed to improving and building the lodge. He went on to become a Trustee and served in that position for many more years.
His love of the Lodge centered and grounded him following the death of his wife in 2014. He continued to make his famous prime rib dinners and attend lodge functions, and met his new life partner, Judith Flegle who loved and cared for him through the remainder of his life. Ray enjoyed the undying love of two women and they each meant the world to him.
Ray’s life was a good one and his passage was swift. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Debra Fink Yeager and Max Yeager of Boulder, CO; his life partner, Judith Flegle of Beverly Hills, FL; his brother and sister-in-law, James and Barbara Fink of York, PA; dozens of nieces and nephews; and many, many friends across the country. He is predeceased by his parents; brother and sister-in-law Ken and June Fink; and a sister and brother-in-law, Fairy Fink Bear and Jim Bear; all of York County, PA.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 6th, 2021, from 11 am to 2 pm at the Lodge in Hernando, FL. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ray’s name to the Florida Elk’s Youth Camp, P.O. Box 49, Umatilla, FL 32784, Attn: Jen. Cremation care by Chas E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness, FL.
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