Raymond Udell Colgan, 97, of DuBois and a resident of Nelson’s Golden Years, went home to his God and Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, to live in His eternal place of joy and rest on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016.
Born April 3, 1919 in Brockway, he was the son of the late Doyle Rankin Colgan and Florence (Clinton) Colgan.
His mother preceded him in death when he was very young and his father later married Mary Harvey Stewart, who helped raise him.
On July 13, 1946, he married Donaldeen S. M. (Granquist) Colgan. She preceded him in death on April 17, 2016.
He was born and raised in Brockway. Upon graduation from Brockway Area High School, he was employed building a power plant in Niagara Falls, NY.
Upon returning from New York, he worked at the Coca Cola Plant in DuBois and owned and operated a small gas station in town at the site where Bailey’s Hot Dog Stand used to be.
He then entered into the insurance business where he owned and operated Ray U. Colgan State Farm Insurance in DuBois for 36 years.
He was a member of the West Liberty Baptist Church and an active member of the Gideon’s International. He was well-known as the “Bible man” distributing Gideon Bibles for 65 years in hotels, hospitals, schools, churches and the people of the DuBois Area.
In his early years of business, he belonged to the Christian Businessman’s Association of the State of Pennsylvania.
He is survived by two children, Esther Louise Davis of North Olmstead, Ohio and Philip Doyle Colgan and his wife, Donna of DuBois, 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by five brothers and sisters.
A private funeral service will be held for the family Wednesday. A public memorial service will be held at a later time.
Burial will be in Morningside Cemetery.
Memorials may be placed with the Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800 and or West Liberty Baptist Church, 139 West Liberty Church Rd., DuBois, PA 15801.