Raymond E. Webster

MISHAWAKA - Longtime Tribune security guard Raymond E. Webster - a man whose varied jobs included stints as a WSBT radio sound effects man, a timekeeper for Bendix Products, a kitchen designer and a cab driver - died Saturday, Jul 10, 1999, at home. He was 82. Mr. Webster was born in Indianapolis but lived most of his life in Michiana, beginning his work career as a News- Times paperboy at the age of 12.

He graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1936. In 1937, he married his wife, Leota Horn-Barnes Webster, in Plymouth. After an unsuccessful run for South Bend mayor in 1951, he served as chief city food inspector for the man who defeated him, Mayor John Scott. He told a Tribune writer last summer that he held many odd jobs. He worked for Bendix Aviation Corp. for several, working in the cost department, in cost analysis, as a timekeeper and investigator and supervisor of the Suggestion Department. He was manager of kitchen planning for the former Kitchen Mart on Main Street, where he worked for 30 years. After working as sound technician and announcer for war-time radio programs on WSBT, he continued his radio work, even spending more than 40 years broadcasting "Sunday School of the Air" for his church, Central United Methodist. After the war, he hosted several radio shows, including the popular "Barbasol Hour" on WHOT, now WNDU.

In 1951, during his campaign for mayor, Mr. Webster wrote: "I am now seeking the high office of Mayor of South Bend - the biggest thing I have ever undertaken - and that only after considerable prayer. I was the first Republican to file." He also noted then that he collected matchbook covers and newspaper pictures of boats and horses. Mr. Webster was proud of his job as a Tribune security guard, telling a writer last summer: "It is a highly visible job. You meet many of the people who make the news - mayors, congressmen, senators, governors - they all make a special trip to our newspaper to explain what they would like to do."

In 1989, he was awarded The Tribune's highest in-house award, the Franklin D. Schurz Award for Excellence, something he called a highlight of his 17-year career here. "He enjoyed being the security guard and spokesman and public relations man for The South Bend Tribune," said his son, Raymond Webster Jr. "He read everybody's articles and looked at every photograph. He just had printer's ink in his body.

Ray Webster took seriously his role as a Tribune security guard. He didn't miss a day of work." Tribune Publisher Todd Schurz agreed. "Ray Webster exemplified the best of the Tribune and of the community," he said. "He will be missed by all of us."

Survivors include his wife and son; two sisters, Betty Safford of McClean, Va., and Mary J. Freese of Jensen Beach, Fla.; a brother, William of South Bend; and three grandchildren.

A daughter, Sue Ann Webster Miller, died in 1968 at the age of 22.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Christian Church. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday in Forest G. Hay Funeral Home, South Bend

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

09/20/2024 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110890766/raymond_e_webster