Barbara Slaybaugh Raymond—mom, sister, wife, grandmother, and friend, affectionately known as “Bobby” to many —passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on April 12, 2026, at Freedom Village, Holland MI.
Barbara was born in Yonkers, New York. She attended Ardsley High School and went on to graduate from Ohio Wesleyan University, where she majored in psychology and was an active and proud member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority—an affiliation she cherished throughout her life.
After college, Barbara lived in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of New York City and worked for U.S. Rubber Company.
On September 7, 1957, she married, Dick Raymond, in Ardsley, New York. Together, they built a life rooted in family, first in Hartsdale, New York, and then in Ridgewood, New Jersey, where they raised their three daughters.
Barbara had a lifelong love of numbers, volunteering, and Duke basketball. She worked for many years as a paralegal during tax season and gave generously of her time to Family Counseling Services, where her dedication earned her multiple awards. Her passion for basketball grew from watching her brother Chet coach her nephews and evolved into a deep and lasting devotion to Duke University basketball—NCAA and ACC tournaments were among her favorite time of the year.
Family was at the center of Barbara’s life. Thanksgiving was a cherished tradition that brought together generations of the Raymond and Slaybaugh families. Over 63 years of marriage, Barbara and Dick shared many adventures, traveling to places including The Poconos, Sanibel Island, Chicago, Bermuda, New York City, London, and Normandy. Their most treasured tradition, however, was spending summers at Silver Bay on Lake George, New York.
In 1994, Barbara and Dick retired to Fearrington Village in North Carolina, where she reconnected with old friends, made new ones, attended live Duke basketball games, and took classes at UNC. After many happy years in North Carolina, they moved in 2014 to Holland, Michigan, to be closer to family. At Freedom Village, Barbara became a valued member of the welcoming committee, creating a pictorial record of residents and helping others feel at home.
Barbara is survived by her three daughters: Susan Raymond of Brooklyn, NY; Lyn Raymond of Holland, and Jane Raymond Gailey of Carmel, Indiana; her grandsons, Sam and Max Gailey; her sister, Eleanor “Skippy” Krell; her brother, Chet Slaybaugh (Charlene); and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Dick Raymond, and her son-in-law, Larry Helder, brother -in -law Dick Krell and sister-in-law Carol Coleman Slaybaugh.
Barbara will be remembered for her quick wit, her love of reading, trivia, and word puzzles, and her thoughtful habit of marking birthdays with a card. Even as it became more difficult in later years, she continued to find ways to celebrate others. She had a special knack for discovering articles and bits of information to share with family, always offering tailored guidance to each person. Above all, she cherished her role as a grandmother.
Her family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Freedom Village for their compassionate care and genuine kindness toward Barbara who they affectionately called “spicy and sassy”, Dick, and their entire family. The community they built there will be deeply missed.
No memorial service is planned.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The New York Times Communities Fund.
https://nytcommunitiesfund.org/
The family is being served by Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th Street, Holland MI 49423.
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