Raymond Gwaltney Thacker

Raymond Gwaltney Thacker. Farmer, husband, and genuine Smithfield. He passed away peacefully at home on February 7, 2026. He was 98.

Born on July 3, 1927, to Lawrence Clyde and Elsie Gwaltney Thacker, Raymond spoke fondly of playing with his brother, Shelton. The two were known as "Crow" and "Black Bird," Raymond earning the name for his long, skinny legs. He was running a team of horses at ten years old and working the sawmill on the family farm during the Depression.

Raymond served his country during the World War II occupation of Japan. He didn't talk about it until his golden years. A long way from the farm of home, he loved telling stories of his travels. The rough seas of the Pacific. Basecamp at the foothills of Fuji Mountain. The Dole pineapple plantations in Hawaii. His biggest basic training regret: skipping a weekend pass to Seattle for Tacoma with the boys. Decades later, his grandson Brandon would serve his country and raise his family in Hawaii, and Scott and family would call Seattle home. The places from his stories had a way of finding their way back into the family.

When he came home, he married Virginia "Bunky" Seward on September 18, 1948. Together they raised a daughter, Darlene Spady, and a son, Henry Lawrence "H.L." Thacker, and have loved as a son, Richard Columbus Wrenn, Jr.

Raymond was a man of simple pleasures and discipline to the land he farmed. He loved fishing for spot and croaker on the James River, trying to find shade under the James River Bridge. One of his favorite meals was fried fish, potato cakes, and an ice-cold High Life. Some might say, when you're drinking it, you're living it — The High Life.

He answered to a few names. Boss to some, Cowboy to others, Daddy and Grand-Daaddy, and later Great Grand-Daaddy to a blessed few. At 75, while helping move a thousand-pound steer to the barnyard, Cowboy reached into the back of the truck and pulled out a six-foot tree limb, like he'd picked it up for this very moment, and declared, "The problem here, boys, is that no one has shown this animal who is boss." The steer ended up in the barnyard. Cowboy, a few seconds later, rolled out of the way just as the steer charged. The ride back up the lane was silent. When he opened the door to go inside, all that needed to be said was, "Looks like you showed him who was boss." And they just died laughing.

Raymond always had his eye on the next horizon. He almost made it to a century, but some say Bunky had other plans. He finally heard her yelling "Ray-mooond!" this past weekend. We wonder what it will be like now that they both have perfect hearing to catch up over time missed together.

He is survived by his daughter, Darlene Spady; son, H.L. Thacker; grandsons Wayne Spady (Jennifer), Brandon Spady (Seylark), Larry Thacker (Kami), and Scott Thacker (Kerry); and nine great-grandchildren.

The family would like to give special thanks to Amy Ippolito and Madison, who lovingly cared for Raymond every day, ensuring he never left the home he built, until his last breath. The family would also like to thank Riverside Hospice for all their compassionate care.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, 1 p.m. at St Lukes Memorial Park Cemetery, Smithfield, VA.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad, P O Box 97, Smithfield, VA 23431

Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com