Back in the early pre-hippie 1960s, when Ivy League was a must for high school and college young men, the “go to” guy for the coolest new styles was Raymond (Ray) Waton, who for many years worked in the Men’s Clothing Department at Boyd’s in Clayton. One of Mr. Waton’s fans was the late Martin Gerchen, who depended on Mr. Waton’s expertise to assure that he would have the sharpest button down Gant shirts and luxurious blue blazers.

After his retirement, when Mr. Waton became a longtime resident of the Jewish Center for Aged (now the Cedars at the JCA), the professional staff and his fellow residents depended upon him for so many volunteer services, that he became known as “Mister JCA.” Mr. Waton died Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the Cedars at the JCA. He was 95 and had been a lifelong resident of St. Louis.

Alice S. Handelman, longtime Community Relations Associate at the JCA, had befriended Mr. Waton during her two decades on the facility’s professional staff and continued to visit him during the 11 years since her retirement.

“I first had the pleasure of meeting Ray Waton when he moved into the JCA in the early 1990s. We became fast friends,” Handelman said in her eulogy to Mr. Waton.

Handelman recalled that Mr. Waton volunteered for the JCA’s Community Relations Department at the JCA. Mr. Waton helped out during JCA special events, including celebrity visits by Henny Youngman, Marvin Hamlisch, Morey Amsterdam, Jackie Mason and others. He also helped the JCA Auxiliary in its gift shop, volunteering a few afternoons a week, and he helped Rabbi Yaakov Gertzulin, the JCA Director of Religious Affairs.

“The dapper, vibrant, caring resident who lived at the old JCA, moved into the Cedars and brought joy to the lives of others has left us,” said Handelman. “He will be deeply missed…Rest in peace, Mr. JCA.”

Rabbi Gertzulin also had fond memories of Mr. Waton. The rabbi said Mr. Waton was a resident at the JCA for just over 20 years.

“I met him when I came to the JCA in 1994. He took a great liking to the synagogue and the Religious Affairs Department. He came to the synagogue every day for services,” Gertzulin said. Mr. Waton helped Gertzulin organize the religious articles needed – and he would welcome others to services. 

“I remember how he used to sit at the front door of the JCA and greet people who came in and out.  He would share with them the current events of the day and the happenings at the JCA,” said the rabbi. “We will miss him.  May his memory be for a blessing to all those who knew him.”

Raymond Waton was born in St. Louis on Oct. 15, 1915, the son of the late Mark and Etta Waton, and the brother of the last Alvin Bernard Waton, who was killed in action during World War II while serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Mr. Waton attended Soldan High School and had been an active member of Temple Israel for many years. He was proudest of his working life from the early 1960s until his retirement in the 1990s, and he continued to use his considerable people skills as a volunteer at the JCA.

Survivors include a cousin, Ruth Kessler, of St. Louis. Funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 26 at B’nai Amoona Cemetery, where Rabbi Gertzulin officiated.