Raymond Lewis Putnam

Raymond Lewis Putnam, 94, of Beards Hollow Road, passed peacefully at his home on Friday, December 15, 2023, and was reunited with his heavenly family members.

He was born March 6, 1929, in Warnerville, NY and was the son of Raymond Arthur and Lucretia "Vera" (Hathaway) Putnam.

As a child, Ray attended the one room School House in Warnerville, and graduated in 1949 from the former Richmondville Central High School.

Ray lived his childhood life in Beards Hollow from the age of 10, and after his graduation, he enlisted (1950) in the United States Army to proudly service his country serving during the Korean Conflict. Obtaining the rank of Corporal while serving for Company F, 511th Airborne Infantry Regiment, out of Fort Campbell, he received his Honorable Discharge on December 1, 1952. With the whisk of the wind, he headed to Alaska, where he mined and panned for gold and spent his first winter in a cabin with a trapper who he befriended.

When he returned to his beloved Schoharie County, he became a farmer, an occupation he so loved, as well as a maple syrup producer and operating a pancake breakfasts at the Schoharie County Sunshine Fair. His gardens provided the beauty of flowers, his gladiolas, and his vegetables, which he shared with all of his girls and his neighbors.

Ray was and will always be remembered as the Mayor of Beards Hollow Road by his lifetime dedication to the Beards Hollow Church, the Association that was affiliated with it, and the Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest. His family and friends were forefront in his life, and everyone will remember his love of flying with his plane around the area's mountainous terrain, his gator rides through the woods and up to his land which was home to his pond, where he spent many hours just sitting and admiring the beauty of his home, Beards Hollow within Schoharie County.

Predeceasing him in death are his parents, his wife, Sandra Rice Putnam, his siblings: Victor, Carl, Quintin, Harold, Imogene and his companion, Shirley Kunz.

Left to cherish the memory of this kind, generous, humble, and loving man are his nephews: Victor E., Steven and Andre Putnam, all of Cobleskill; his niece, Penelope (Doug) Young of Bridger, Montana; his extended family: Jim and Tracey Himme, Edward, Jay and Jill Kunz, his adopted grandsons: Eddy Kunz, Matthew Kunz, as well as 7 great- grandchildren who loved "Pop Pop" Raymond.

At Ray's request, no formal services will be held, but his request for memorial donations may be made to the Beards Hollow Church, Building & Grounds Fund, care of Scott Barton, Beards Hollow Society, PO Box 32, Cobleskill, NY 12043.