Ray Affolder, 89, of Berne, Indiana, and a lifelong resident of Adams County, passed away
peacefully at 9:38 PM on Friday, August 30, 2024, at Stillwater Hospice in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
He was born on March 16, 1935, in Berne to the late Edwin and Dorcie Affolder.
Ray was a proud graduate of Geneva High School, class of 1953. On July 14, 1956, he married Phyllis Joan Wolford in Geneva, Indiana, and they shared 68 wonderful years together. Ray was the last surviving family member of “Affolder Implement,” a business founded in 1928 by his father, Edwin. He was deeply committed to his community, with farming and operating his dairy for 43 years as well as serving on the Adams County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. In his free time, Ray enjoyed watching college football and basketball. But the true joy of his life was spending quality time with his family and farming.
Ray is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis Joan Affolder of Berne, IN, 1 son, Mark A. (Lee Ann) Affolder of Berne, IN; 1 daughter, Marla J. Lutes of Pennville, IN; 7 grandchildren, Tara McHenry of Denver, CO, Michelle Affolder of Bluffton, IN, Hannah Parker of Convoy, OH, Caleb Lutes of Portland, IN, and Christopher Lutes of Portland, IN, Brett Affolder, Blake Affolder; 6 great-grandchildren with another due in late September; and one great-great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Dorcie (Broadstock) Affolder; his son,
James R. “Jim” Affolder; and his siblings, Irene E. Schindler, Dale B. Affolder, Edwin “Jack”
Affolder, Helen D. Balsiger, Lillian M. Grogg, and Howard D. Affolder.
Family and friends are invited to gather and remember Ray at Downing & Glancy Funeral
Home, located at 100 N. Washington Street, Geneva, on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. A service to celebrate Ray’s life will follow at 5:00 PM, with burial taking place at the M.R.E. Cemetery in Berne.
Memorial contributions to Ray’s life may be made in honor of his son Jim Affolder to the Adams County Cancer Coalition, PO Box 215, Decatur, IN 46733.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Downing & Glancy Funeral Home in Geneva.
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