Raymond was born on May 20, 1927 in Smithfield, TX, the first of three boys born to Truman and Opal Stallings. He was raised in Texas until the age of 15, when his family moved to Selma, CA. He graduated from Selma High School in 1945.
At just 18 years old, he honorably served his country in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Texas during WWII.
Not long after his service, he attended college in Fresno where he earned a certificate in plumbing. In January 1948, he started as a plumbing apprentice for Overstreet Plumbing and Paint (owned by his future in-laws) – he made $1 per hour. He went on to work at Camp Roberts and Soledad Prison. As a respected tradesman and expert plumber, Raymond was a proud member of the UA local 246 having received his 65 year pin.
On April 3, 1948, he married the love of his life, Janette Overstreet. They started a family in Selma, where their first three children (Leland, Janice, and Kathleen) were born. The family moved to Salinas in 1955. Raymond and Janette were also blessed to help raise an eight-month-old boy, Wayne, who they have considered a son since that time. Leonard, their fourth child, was born in 1961.
In 1966, the Stallings family moved back to the Valley, settling in Visalia, CA.
Raymond served God faithfully through the years, volunteering as a deacon, treasurer, church construction, and countless other ministries. Raymond has passed down a wonderful Christian legacy to his family.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 70 years, Janette; eldest son Leland and wife Marsha Stallings; daughter Janice and husband Ellis Doyal; daughter Kathy and husband Anthony Adams; son Lenny and wife Shannon Stallings; son Wayne and wife Helen Chin; grandchildren: Eric and Ronni Doyal, Derek Stallings and Tonya, Janette and Chris Meyer, Craig Doyal, Sara and Herman Villarreal, Caleb and Nicole Adams, Casey and Brian Camarillo, Kaitlen and Jacob Davis, Kara and Brandon Jeffries, Dylan Chin, and Madeleine Chin; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter (and one more on the way!)… and extended family and countless friends.
