By Rebecca Goodman
Enquirer staff writer

BRIDGETOWN - Raymond A. Bauman co-owned George and Ray's Meats, at Bridgetown and North Bend roads in Cheviot, for 40 years.

He loved his job, and his customers loved doing business with him. "People liked to go in there because Dad was very personable and always did favors for them," said his daughter Shirley Liles of Miami Township.

He also made goetta - a West Side favorite - from scratch.

Mr. Bauman died Sunday of complications from cancer at Mercy-Franciscan Western Hills. The Bridgetown resident was 90.

A native of Westwood and an Elder High School alumnus, he and his partner, George Herweh, who is also deceased, opened the store in 1940. When the United States entered World War II, Mr. Bauman pitched in for the war effort by testing airplanes at the Wright Aeronautical Plant.

In Cheviot, he was well known, not just because he sliced people's turkeys for free, but because he was a dapper dresser. "He dressed fit to kill," his daughter said. "He was very clothes conscious."

He was also meticulous when it came to caring for his lawn, garden and house. "He was always trimming trees, working on the roof. He had so much energy," his daughter said.

Mr. Bauman sold the store in 1980 and retired, which afforded him more time for his favorite activities - golf and bowling. He bowled two or three times a week until his recent illness and made a hole-in-one at Hillview Golf Course in Cleves on his 80th birthday.

Mr. Bauman was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include his wife of 64 years, Marie Hasenour Bauman; another daughter, Carol J. Holtkamp of Green Township; three sisters, Lou Colina and Thelma Gurth, both of Colerain Township, and Mary Schlanser of Delhi Township; a brother, Bob Schlanser of Mason; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services were held. Entombment was at St. Joseph Old Cemetery Mausoleum.

Memorials: Hope Lodge of Cincinnati, 2820 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45206.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com

Lives remembered