Loving and loved husband, father, family member and friend. "Respected and dedicated businessman. Noted and admired sportsman. A man of uncommon and sincere fairness. Generosity and faith. He truly relished never failing in his responsibilities to his fellow man, his church and his family. He touched many lives and made a difference." Unpretentious, not one to push himself on people, Raymond C. Firestone didn't fit the picture of the typical industrialist. For that, the people who knew him are grateful. The last of the family to run the tire company founded by his father, The causes Raymond Firestone adopted were many; though characteristically, he didn't try to grab credit for his involvement. A partial list: Blossom Music Center, Weathervane Community Playhouse, Akron City Hospital, St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Pegasus Farm, a therapeutic horseback riding program for disabled children. Unlike many members of the family, Mr. Firestone stayed in the Akron area and put his money to work here.This year, he gave Bath Township $85,000 for its new $4.5 million township office expansion.Mr. Firestone's 1,500 acre estate, Lauray Farms, is located in the township. Mr. Firestone sold most of Lauray Farms on generous terms to Ohio State University. Under the agreement, which amounted to a $3 million gift, the school gains possession of all but 150 acres of the farm upon Mr. Firestone's death. OSU said yesterday that it has not made plans for the property. Mr. Firestone retired from the tire industry as chairman of Firestone Tire & Rubber in 1976, having relinquished the title of chief executive officer in 1973.He stepped down from the board of directors in January 1977, a point many in Akron remember as the company's apex.In his 13 years as head of the company, the company's sales grew from $1.4 billion to $3.9 billion."He was always supportive of the tumultuous changes that were required in the tire business in order for Firestone to remain a proactive company," said George Aucott, former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. Mr. Firestone held a wide-ranging interest in sports. At the urging of Akron's Eddie Elias, founder of the Professional Bowlers Association, Firestone took over sponsorship of the Tournament of Champions in 1965. That relationship lasted until 1993.Elias said at the time that company's relationship with bowling would prove more enduring than its ties to the Indianapolis 500 motor race, in which Mr. Firestone took a keen interest.An avid golf fan, Mr. Firestone was honored this year at the NEC World Series of Golf Ambassador's Dinner for his service to the sport and to the community.



**He married Jane Allen Messler on 04/28/1962 at St Paul's Episcipal Church Rochester NY., she died on Dec. 21, 1994 in Miami Florida.**