| Notes |
- Carey Hand Cox-Parker Funeral Home
Raymond Hubert Bassett
April 24, 1926 ? July 13, 2015
BASSETT, RAYMOND HUBERT, 89, passed away on Monday, July 13, 2015. Ray was born on April 24, 1926 in the Village of Perry, Wyoming County, NY to Percy and Mary Bassett. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian Richards Bassett, and his daughter, Diana Bassett Fulghum.
Ray was a retired aircraft mechanic with Showalter Flying Service and was most proud of his 24 years of service as a member of the Orange County School Board. He loved computers and most recently was teaching basic computer skills to senior citizens at the Marks Street Senior Center.
He is survived by his sons, Bruce Bassett (Kris), Robin Bassett (Jody) and Ronald Bassett (Mary); grandchildren, Nathan Bassett, Rhonda Bassett Santana (Victor), Chris Bassett (Amy), Scott Fulghum (Amy), Eric Fulghum (Amy), Matthew Fulghum, Davey Fulghum (Brandy), Anita Fulghum Harrelson (Steve), Carol Fulghum, numerous great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Orlando Sentinel, August 5, 2015
Raymond H. Bassett (Picture included)
Raymond Bassett: Aircraft mechanic also joined School Board
On the Orange County School Board and as aircraft mechanic, Raymond Bassett was well-versed in setting things right.
During his 24 years on the board, that meant a steadfast approach to his beliefs. During his decades at Orlando Executive Airport, it meant he worked in various capacities for Showalter Flying Service to ensure the aircraft were in good shape.
"He still loved flying up until the last day; he just couldn't do much about it," said Bassett's son Bruce. "He was always interested in education because he never really had a college education at all. He had a lot of common sense."
Raymond Hubert Bassett died July 13 of complications from a fall. He was 89.
"He spent a lot of time educating himself so he could do a better job on the School Board," Bruce Bassett said. His father had to digest a folder of information each week and attended other meetings to educate others about what the board was working on.
"He was gone so much for School Board meetings and functions," Bruce Bassett said. His father often changed into a suit and tie after work for an evening board meeting. "I don't know how he kept up the pace."
In addition to his work and his role on the board, to which he was elected in 1966, Bassett taught fundamental computer skills to older adults at a local senior center. Bassett was an early adopter of the new technology, purchasing a PC as soon as he could. As the Internet became available, Bassett surfed the Web, looking at airplanes.
"Anything mechanic, he enjoyed messing with," Bruce Bassett said. Radios, model airplanes and engines were among what Bassett tinkered with.
Bassett grew up in Perry, N.Y., where his father was proprietor of a service station ? one of just a few in the town that spanned six blocks. He worked alongside his father during and after high school, going on to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He would end up training to be a mechanic despite his desire to be a pilot, Bruce Bassett said.
He then was at Roosevelt Field on Long Island to hone his trade, which he followed with his pilot's license. During his career, Bassett would sometimes fly the airplanes after he fixed them to ensure they were running smoothly. Bruce Bassett said that occurred mostly before the family moved to Florida in 1957.
Bassett worked on automatic-pilot technology and painted the planes, too, Bruce Bassett said.
In a small airport, just a few miles outside Perry, Bassett often took his family to "fly-ins" where pilots would fly in for a bacon, egg and sausage breakfast along with conversation with mechanics and with pilots of similar aircraft.
Bruce Bassett said his brother, Robin, rents out part of a hangar off of U.S. Highway 27. Bassett would go up in the aircraft, and the two would fly for about an hour.
In the end, his love of planes persisted.
In addition to his son Bruce Bassett of Satellite Beach, Raymond Hubert Bassett is survived by sons Robin Bassett of Orlando and Ronald Bassett of Mount Dora; nine grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Carey Hand Cox-Parker Funeral Home handled arrangements.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1926 - 2015 (89 years)