Obituary for Raphael J. MacWilliams Sr.
RAPHAEL J. “Ray” MacWILLIAMS SR., age 93, A US Army Korean War Veteran, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Frances MacWilliams (nee Hart). He was predeceased by his parents Paul and Elizabeth (nee Hamill) MacWilliams, his brothers Paul MacWilliams, Malcolm MacWilliams, Marlin MacWilliams, Roderick MacWilliams, Charles MacWilliams, and Dr. Robert MacWilliams, and his sister Joan MacWilliams. He is survived by his children Ray MacWilliams, Jr. and his wife Kathleen, Anita Ross and her late husband Keith, Dr. Maria MacWilliams and her husband Dr. Mark Chiu, Lisa MacWilliams and her husband Dr. Martin Evans, Kathleen Lipski and her husband, Edward, Eileen Kirsch and her husband Dan, Thomas MacWilliams and his wife Eileen, and Celia Holmes and her husband Scott, also survived by 21 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Raphael worked for many years at RCA Service Company as Manager Writing & Editing Services, and later at General Electric as Manager of Business Development Services. He and his wife Frances were active members of St. Christopher Parish for over 56 years, and longtime members of St. Christopher Fifty Plus Club. As a volunteer, he put together the St. Christopher Parish bulletin. Raphael attended North Catholic High School (Class of 1946). He graduated from Villanova University (Class of 1951) where he served as the editor of the Villanova year book (Belle Air). In 1953, he received a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Raphael served his country loyally as a member of the US Army stationed in Munich, Germany, where he continued his publishing and editorial skills by putting out two Army newspapers for the GIs. He and his wife raised eight children in the Somerton section of Philadelphia, attending various family, social and athletic events with the family. Both Raphael and Frances enjoyed visiting with their twenty-one grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He loved to read and recite poetry and classic stories. Raphael was truly the patriarch of the MacWilliams Family East!
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Thursday, February 3, 2022, from 9:30am until 11:00am at St. Christopher Church, 13301 Proctor Road, Philadelphia, PA 19116, followed by his funeral mass, 11:00am. His burial, with military honors at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, will be held privately on February 4, 2022. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Christopher Church at the above address or Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085.
Share memories at www.DiGiacomoFuneralHome.com.
Raphael worked for many years at RCA Service Company as Manager Writing & Editing Services, and later at General Electric as Manager of Business Development Services. He and his wife Frances were active members of St. Christopher Parish for over 56 years, and longtime members of St. Christopher Fifty Plus Club. As a volunteer, he put together the St. Christopher Parish bulletin. Raphael attended North Catholic High School (Class of 1946). He graduated from Villanova University (Class of 1951) where he served as the editor of the Villanova year book (Belle Air). In 1953, he received a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Raphael served his country loyally as a member of the US Army stationed in Munich, Germany, where he continued his publishing and editorial skills by putting out two Army newspapers for the GIs. He and his wife raised eight children in the Somerton section of Philadelphia, attending various family, social and athletic events with the family. Both Raphael and Frances enjoyed visiting with their twenty-one grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He loved to read and recite poetry and classic stories. Raphael was truly the patriarch of the MacWilliams Family East!
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Thursday, February 3, 2022, from 9:30am until 11:00am at St. Christopher Church, 13301 Proctor Road, Philadelphia, PA 19116, followed by his funeral mass, 11:00am. His burial, with military honors at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, will be held privately on February 4, 2022. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Christopher Church at the above address or Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085.
Share memories at www.DiGiacomoFuneralHome.com.