A Celebration of Life for Raymond S. Bounds Jr. will occur
Wednesday January 25, 2023
Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church
5620 Wylausing Ave. Phila,Pa
Viewing: 10:00am-11:00am -Service at 11:00am.
Interment. Fernwood Cemetery.
Raymond Syminster Bounds Jr. was born on March 27, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the late Raymond S. Bounds Sr. and Martha A. Bounds. He was the only child born into this union. He grew up in West Philadelphia and was affectionately called “Butch” by friends and family.
Ray was a product of the Philadelphia Public School system attending Commodore John Barry Elementary School, Shoemaker Junior High, and Bartram High School, where he excelled academically and athletically throughout. He later graduated from Temple University and served in the Army Reserves. Both his father and mother were pharmacists. They owned and operated Bounds Pharmacy, a fixture in the community, on 59th and Race Street for decades. Following in their footsteps, Ray became an accomplished registered pharmacist, having served the Philadelphia area community for close to 50 years. He began his career as a pharmacist at his parents’ pharmacy, then onto Sun Ray Pharmacy, Abington Memorial Hospital, and the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Hospital, eventually retiring in 2008.
Ray married Mabel Henry Sorrells on October 23, 1965. She has been the love of his life for the past 57 years. From this union, they had three children, David Edward, Joel Raymond, and Mark Jeffery. Ray was a devoted husband and father until the day God called him to his eternal home on January 16, 2023.
Ray was very social and enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Ray knew laughter was the best medicine and loved listening to comedy albums by Redd Foxx and Bill Cosby. He was also an avid reader and kept his bookshelves full. He could be found reading the Daily News and Inquirer every morning as well as his wide range of magazine subscriptions (Time, Ebony, National Geographic, Reader’s Digest, Sports Illustrated). Ray was a music fan who appreciated the sounds of Ray Charles and various jazz greats.
Ray was an avid sports fan; specifically a Philly sports fan. As a child, Ray and his father would attend Temple University games when the Owls played on Friday nights at the old Temple University Stadium off of Ogontz Avenue. He was a season ticket holder with the Philadelphia Eagles for 62 years. He faithfully attended the Eagles home games originally with his father and continued this tradition with his sons. Track and field was very dear to him as well. He was a varsity member of his Bartram High School cross country and track & field team as an 800m runner. He looked forward to attending various college and professional sports events including Philadelphia major league sports teams, the Penn Relays, the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and the 2017 World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.
Ray was an extraordinary and generous man who made a tremendous impact on the lives of many. He promoted integrity, hard work, and self-discipline. Memories of family gatherings, his words of wisdom, humor, and his unforgettable smile will live in our hearts forever. He was a humble man, kind and gracious. Known for helping others and prioritizing his family, Ray leaves a legacy that will live well beyond his 85 years here on earth.
Raymond Syminster Bounds Jr. is survived by his wife, Mabel, sons David and Joel, grandchildren Kahson, Desiree, and Zarah, daughters-in-law Angela and Kisha, brothers-in-law Edgar and Alphonzo, sisters-in-law Raine and Kathryn, niece Karen, nephews Ronald, Ayo, Jumaane, godson Tony, cousins Charlotte Sue, Martha, and Timothy, a host of other relatives, and a countless lifelong friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Jeffery Bounds.
Lovingly Submitted,
The Family
