Raymond Thomas Doyle, Jr.

Raymond Thomas Doyle, Jr., 89, devoted family patriarch, successful business owner, avid boater, and photographer died on Saturday, March 1, 2025 in Yorktown, VA. He was born December 24, 1935 in Baltimore, Maryland. Raymond was a 1954 graduate of Hampton High School and went on to graduate from Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Apprentice School in 1958 as a machinist. With twelve years of experience, he worked as a supervisor in the Machine Shop. With his ambitious spirit, Raymond left the shipyard and started his own printing business, Doyle's Copy Center. Upon the death of his father-in-law in 1968, Raymond and his wife Sallie purchased Houston Printing and Publishing House from her family. He merged both businesses and relocated to 60 West Mercury Blvd. Ray and Sallie worked together for 36 years operating Houston Printing Company. Along with dedicated employees, they served the community until retirement in 2006.

Raymond’s early years were marked by a strong work ethic. As a young boy, Ray worked as the helper and runner for a milk truck driver. Although his route was on a truck, the dairy delivered with the last horse-drawn milk wagon in the Baltimore area. In the afternoons, Ray would deliver The Evening Sun newspaper. He picked up his bundle of papers at the neighborhood firehouse. When it was raining or snowing, the firemen would bring his newspapers inside out of the bad weather. Ray would fold his papers and continue on his way. He would often follow the firetrucks on his bicycle. Ray’s early experiences laid the foundation for his lifelong involvement in the fire service. As an adult, Raymond joined Wythe and Hampton Volunteer Fire Companies, earning the honorary distinction of Life Member from Station 1. Throughout his life, he and Sallie traveled the east coast attending fire department parades, judging competitions, and capturing beautiful photographs of fire apparatus.

As a young man Raymond served in the United States Naval Reserves.

Raymond was preceded in death by his loving wife Sallie Byrd Carleton Doyle of Hampton, VA. They were Hampton High School sweethearts, married on June 21, 1958. Ray and Sallie celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary prior to her death on November 1, 2007, All Saints Day.

Raymond’s legacy is carried on by his three daughters: Sally Ellen Doyle Miller and her husband, Keith Edward Miller, of Yorktown, VA; Nancy Elizabeth Doyle Mears and her husband, Jay Edward Mears, of Chesapeake, VA; Carolyn Byrd Doyle Robertson and her husband, The Reverend (retired) Robert "Robbie" John Robertson III, of Virginia Beach, VA.

His six grandchildren: Elizabeth Ann Mears and her fiancé, Lawrence Wallace Van Alstine III, of Washington, D.C.; Steven Edward Miller and his wife, Loni Rochelle DiEmidio, and their son, Merlin Stone DiEmidio Miller, of New Kent County, VA; Dr. Caroline Taylor Mears Norris and her husband, Justin Alan Norris, with joyful anticipation of a baby girl, of Basalt, CO; Sarah Ellen Miller of Atlanta, GA; Michael Thomas Robertson of Atlanta, GA; Katherine Byrd Robertson of Virginia Beach, VA.

He is further survived by his friend and brother-in-law Franklin Hall "Bub" Carleton, Jr., his wife Frances of Powhatan, VA, and their children Raymond Blake Carleton, Franklin Taff "Skip" Carleton, and Sarah Helen Carleton. Niece and nephews: Jennipher Barrack Lucado of Lynchburg, VA, Roderick Clifton Barrack of Glass, VA, Christopher Scott Doyle of Midlothian, VA, and David Amory Doyle of Chesterfield, VA.

Raymond was preceded in death by: Brother, James Robert Doyle of Powhatan, VA, Sister, Mary Geraldine "Deanie" Doyle Woodmansee of Kilmarnock, VA, Infant sister, Mary Josephine Doyle, Hampton, VA, Parents, Raymond Thomas Doyle, Sr. and Sarah "Ellen" Schoonmaker Doyle of Hampton, VA, Paternal grandparents, Patrolman Thomas Henry Doyle and Emma Loretta Geipe Doyle of Baltimore, MD, Maternal grandparents, Henry Samuel Schoonmaker and Josephine Marie Fox Schoonmaker of Baltimore, MD, In-laws, Franklin Hall Carleton and Sarah Emma Louise Face Carleton of Hampton, VA, Precious young nephew Franklin Hall "Buzzy" Carleton III, Hampton, VA.

Ray was also preceded in death by his companion of ten years and HHS classmate, Nina Winder Miller of Hallieford, VA.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 am to noon, Monday, March 10, 2025, at the Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton. Afterwards, there will be a Fireman’s Procession to the cemetery. At 1:00 pm Raymond will be laid to rest with a graveside service conducted by The Reverend Robbie Robertson in the St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery, 100 West Queens Way, Hampton, VA. A reception to follow in The Parish House. Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share words of comfort and memories with the family. Service arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Hampton Volunteer Fire Company, PO BOX 414 Hampton VA 23669 or your local Volunteer Fire Department.