Raymond J. Haines, Jr., 86, of Bridgewater passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at his home.

He was born in Somerville on September 9, 1938, a son of the late Raymond J. and Thelma F. Peterson Haines.  He had been a lifelong Bridgewater resident.

Ray was a 1956 graduate of Somerville High School.

He was a US Air Force veteran having served from 1956 to 1960 attaining the rank of Airman 2nd Class.

Mr. Haines began his working career as the owner and operator of Raymond J. Haines Bus Company in Martinsville from 1960 to 1965.  He then joined the Bridgewater Township Police Department as an original member from 1965 to 1968.  Following his police career, he became manager of Colonial Liquors in Pluckemin in 1968 serving for 21 years until 1989.  He was employed by the Bridgewater Township Board of Education as a custodian at Bridgewater – Raritan High School in 1989 and worked his way up to head custodian before retiring in 2002.

Ray loved airplanes and enjoyed going to Somerset Airport to watch them take-off and land.  He loved traveling, especially to England and Canada.  He was also an avid NY Mets baseball fan and a former Philadelphia Phillies baseball fan.

Mr. Haines is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret A. “Margo” Haines; a son, Douglas Allen Haines of Beaverton, OR; 2 daughters, Donna Lee Burnett and her husband, James, of Bridgewater and Debra Joanne Harner of Orange City, FL; 4 grandchildren, Alison and Emily Burnett and Madeline and Julian Haines; 4 great grandchildren, Eve, Sam, Zack and Violet; and a brother, Donne B. Haines and his wife, Linda, of Venice, FL.

Private services are being arranged under the direction of Layton Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Bedminster.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Martinsville Rescue Squad, 1771 Washington Valley Road, Martinsville, NJ  08836.