Raymond E. Bloomfield Memorial Fund
The Raymond E. Bloomfield Memorial Fund was established in 2025 in memory of Ray Bloomfield to support the Construction Trades Academy at Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion. Through this designated fund, Ray’s family is carrying forward his passion for the building trades and his desire to help others build better futures.
Originally from Vanceburg, Kentucky, Ray (1942-2025) came to Ohio at age 16 and began working in local factories. Under the guidance of Harold Buhler, he learned masonry and carpentry through an apprenticeship, developing skills that would shape his career and become his lifelong passion. He eventually launched his own businesses, H & B Masonry and M & R Rentals.
Ray’s connection to Tri-Rivers ran deep. In addition to his career in masonry, he taught the trade at the career center and regularly hired Tri-Rivers graduates for his construction crews. He believed in the value of practical skills and the opportunities they could create for others.
According to his family, Ray always wanted to help people, and the construction trades provided a way for him to share his knowledge and help others improve their lives. Establishing the memorial fund was a natural way to honor that legacy while helping future generations pursue careers in construction.
For Ray’s family, the fund is also a way to give back to the Marion community he loved. By supporting the Construction Trades Academy in perpetuity, they are ensuring that Ray’s passion for his work and his commitment to helping others will continue to make a difference for years to come.
Ray was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Rotary, the Marion Area Rental Association and the Gyro Club. He was especially proud of his 48 years and nine months in Alcoholics Anonymous. Outside of work and community service, he enjoyed golf, card games, winters in Florida, time at his cabin in Kentucky and gospel music.
Through the Raymond E. Bloomfield Memorial Fund, Ray’s family is preserving his memory in a meaningful and lasting way — investing in the skills, confidence and futures of those who will carry the building trades forward.
