Raymond L. Bonesteel

Grafton – Raymond  L. (Let) (Bony) Bonesteel was born November 18, 1921, to the late Irving P. Bonesteel and Frances Dorsch Bonesteel.  He attended the one room school in Grafton, NY, through eighth grade.  As a young man he worked on several local farms until the Army drafted him on November 19, 1942. During his first day of combat in France he was severely wounded in the neck by shrapnel and, as a result, earned the prestigious Purple Heart Medal.  He continued to serve in the front lines and quickly earned the rank of Technical Sergeant.  Leading his platoon he also served in the American Campaign and European African Middle Eastern Campaign.  He was discharged from the Army in July 1945 and began working for the Manning Paper Company and eventually John M. Mullins Hauling and Rigging, from which he retired.  He was a member of the Carner, Etman & Smith VFW Post.  Let was an avid outdoorsman, hunting and fishing, and was a longtime baseball fan.  He is pre-deceased by Eleanor Bonesteel, Bub Bonesteel, Margaret Bonesteel, Betty Beaudry and Frances Corbin.  He is survived by his sister, Carolyn Boomhower  of Grafton, his nieces, Patricia Corbin and Carol, his nephew, Lester King, who was his caregiver and longtime comrade, his great-nieces, Rebecca and husband Steven Kirchner, Amy and husband Brian Grandjean and Linda King, and his great-nephew, Seth King. He most adored spending time with his great-great-nephews, Ethan and Noah Grandjean, and great-great-niece, Kylie Grandjean. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews (many generations).
Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 26, at 2 pm at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh, NY.  Interment will follow with full military honors in the Eagle Mills Cemetery.  Relatives and friends are invited to the funeral home for visitation starting at noon on Friday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer County or the Grafton Rescue Squad in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 361, Petersburgh, NY, 12138.