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Raymond H. Battle age 98, of Glassboro, NJ passed peacefully Thursday, November 30, 2023. Former Senior Gloucester County Agricultural Agent, he worked for the NJ Extension Service of Rutgers University from 1951 until his retirement in 1980 and lived in Richwood, NJ until 2010. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps serving during World War II. Born in Grenloch, NJ on October 21, 1925, to Walter and Isabella Battle, he moved to Monroeville in 1934 and attended Monroeville Grammar School and Woodstown High School graduating in 1943. Following high school, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in WWII in the Philippines and Japan. He attended Rutgers University earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in 1951. In 1951 he married Mary Cooper, who he met at Woodstown High School. He worked for the NJ Extension Service of Rutgers University serving as 4-H Agent in Cape May County for two years and Agricultural Agent and Senior Agricultural Agent in Gloucester County from 1953 through 1980. He lived in Richwood NJ from 1955 until 2010 and operated Battle’s Christmas tree farm with his family, initially as a hobby and later as a retirement activity, from 1959 on. He was a member of the Richwood United Methodist Church, NJ County Agricultural Agents Association, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, NJ Christmas Tree Growers Association, National Christmas Tree Association, NJ Peach Council and NJ Farm Bureau. He received the Distinguished Service to NJ Agriculture Award by the State Board of Agriculture in 1965.

Raymond is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Mary Battle, his children, son Joseph Battle (wife Karen), and daughter Nancy Battle Leone. He is also survived by his grandchildren Andrew Battle (wife Samantha), Eric Battle (wife Caitlin), and Jennifer Leone Dornbusch (husband Tyler), as well as great-grandchildren Oliver Battle, Simon Battle and Quinn Battle.

He enjoyed traveling with his wife Mary throughout the US and Europe, visiting all 50 states, and often returning to Maui with their family. He also enjoyed baseball, hunting, and growing Christmas trees as part of the family business.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 10:00am to 11:00am on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Richwood United Methodist Church, 104 Richwood Road Mullica Hill, NJ 08062. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00am with military honors and burial to follow at Richwood Cemetery in Richwood, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to

Richwood United Methodist Church (checks to P.O. Box 7, Richwood, NJ 08074).

Memories and condolences can be shared at www.smithfhmantua.com.