Harold M Raffensperger

On July 25, 2024, Harold “Hal” Raffensperger, devoted husband and family man, went to glory with his Heavenly Father. His 91 years of earthly life were a blessing to countless people, whom he deeply affected with his quiet strength, humble leadership, and deep faith.

Hal was born in Biglerville, Pennsylvania, on March 14, 1933, to Charles and Erma Raffensperger, both dedicated educators. He grew up in Mifflintown and Gettysburg, where he attended Gettysburg High School, and was active in student government, drama club, and band. A life of adventurous travel started then, as well, with Hal joining an extended road trip with his teacher and 3 other students that took them all around the country and deep into undeveloped Mexico.

Hal attended Gettysburg College, where he took advantage of the new Air ROTC program. He majored in math with a minor in physics, finishing in 3 years with a 2nd Lieutenant commission in the Air Force. He was assigned to Tyndall AFB in Panama City, FL, where he flew T-33 jets as targets for radar operator training, and also did formation flyovers for nearby community celebrations.

He met Marianna Cato from Atlanta in 1956. After a long-distance courtship, they were married on June 8, 1957, in her hometown of Augusta, GA. After his Air Force discharge, they settled in Charlotte, NC, where he took a job at Southern Bell Telephone Company. There, they had 3 children, Charles, Sally, and Susan. Southern Bell transferred Hal and family several times, including a 3-year stint with AT&T in New York, and eventually settling in Dunwoody, GA. Hal had a successful 30-year career with Southern Bell as a cost and settlements analyst and planner, eventually managing a large team, and serving as an expert witness in many rate-increase cases. With the divestiture of the Bell System, Hal made the decision to take early retirement in 1987 at age 54.

Hal and Marianna took the kids on many adventurous trips all over the East Coast and West, including seeing the Apollo 11 launch in FL in 1969 that was the first manned mission to the moon. After Hal’s retirement, he and Marianna traveled to 57 countries, many with the Friendship Force. They also hosted many families traveling to the US in their home, and stayed in the homes of their newly-made friends on their trips abroad. A highlight of Hal’s retirement was his work with refugee resettlement.

Hal and Marianna were very active with Apostles Lutheran Church in Sandy Springs for many years. There they made many more deep, lifelong friendships. In 1988, they moved into their newly built dream home in the woods of Alpharetta, with several other Apostles families in the same development, and made Alpharetta Presbyterian their new church home.

Hal was blessed with 67 wonderful years of marriage to Marianna, his partner in love and world travel. He always enjoyed a good tennis match, trips to Fripp Island, SC, and having great food and fellowship with friends and family. He leaves a legacy of love, faith and service that is the model of a life well-lived. He will be sorely missed.

Hal is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Phyllis Crimm, and her husband Ronald Crimm.

He is survived by his wife, Marianna Raffensperger; his brother, Donald Raffensperger (wife Leslie); his three children, Charles Raffensperger (wife Psyche), Sally Caudle (husband Rick), and Susan Rico (husband Leonel); his six grandchildren, Paige Raffensperger, Lindsay Worsley (husband Fletcher), Sarah Caudle (husband Danny), Alex Raffensperger (wife Jessica), Anna Williford (husband Chris), and Devin Raffensperger; and his eight great-grandchildren, Logan, Spencer, Adaline, Aiden, Camilla, Audrianna, Claira, and Amelia.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 10, at 11:00 am at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009. The Interment of Ashes will precede the celebration at 10:00 am at the same address.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to North Fulton Community Charities: https://nfcchelp.org/, or APC Outreach Ministries: https://alpharettapres.com/give-serve/give/ (indicate on checks made to Alpharetta Presbyterian Church: “In memory of Hal Raffensperger, for Outreach Ministries”).