Obituary of Troy R. Raynor

Major Troy Russell Raynor was Promoted to Glory Thursday, November 11, 2021, surrounded by family in his home, after living more than 11 years with Parkinson’s Disease. Troy was born in Four Oaks, NC on August 1, 1943, to Roy and Bessie (Allen) Raynor. He was the youngest child to older brothers Ken (Autry) and Jerry. Troy met the Salvation Army at the Corps in Smithfield, NC in fourth grade and became a faithful soldier/member. During his teenage years, Captains Bill and Jean Wall were a major influence in Troy’s life and were instrumental in keeping him in high school and believing he could go to college. After graduated Smithfield High School in 1962 and attending East Carolina College, Troy felt a call to Officership in December 1962 during an Altar Call at the Smithfield Corps, where Earl and Edith Reagan were Corps Officers and mentors. He attended the School for Officer’s Training 1963-65 as a member of the Proclaimers of the Faith Session, where he met Orinda Jane Morgan. Commissioned to Gastonia, NC in June 1965, Troy was then appointed to Asheville, NC in June 1966. Lt. Troy and Lt. Orinda Jane Morgan married on November 5, 1966, at Baltimore Hampden Corps and were sent to Winston-Salem Central Corps as Corps Officers/Pastors. Troy and Orinda ministered faithfully in corps (churches) and headquarter appointments throughout the Southern Territory, including North & South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and National Capital & Virginia divisions. After Orinda’s Promotion to Glory, Troy loyally served at Territorial Headquarters in Atlanta until his retirement on July 1, 2004 after 40 years of service. Troy married Karen McChesney July 17, 2004, in Iowa City, Iowa, and they lived and worked in Atlanta until January 2006, when they moved to On Top of the World retirement community in Ocala, FL. In 2017 Troy and Karen moved to their current home in North Liberty, IA. Troy enjoyed learning, and after taking college classes in several different appointments, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, graduating Cum Laude from the University of South Florida on April 29, 1989. His other interests included traveling, music, playing late night games of rummy, watching old westerns, baseball and football, and especially cheering on his beloved Dallas Cowboys. A modest and earnest man, Troy was happiest surrounded by friends and family. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and ‘father figure’ to many. They will mostly remember him for his wit, dry sense of humor, generosity, and kindness. Troy is preceded in death by his first wife, Orinda Jane, his parents, both brothers, and a great-grandson. He is survived by his wife Karen, son Shawn Raynor (Asha), daughter Major Jennifer Melton (Carl), daughter Major Shelley Bell (Zach), stepdaughter Sandra Junge (Steve), stepson Scott McChesney, 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 3 p.m., in the Evangeline Booth College Chapel in Atlanta, Georgia. Burial of his cremains will take place in The Salvation Army section of Westview Cemetery in Atlanta. Memorial donations may be made to your local Salvation Army or to Iowa City Hospice, 1526 Sycamore St., Iowa City, IA 52240.