Raymond B. Smith

May, 1975 – April 23, 2026

Raymond Smith, known to family and friends as Ray, passed away unexpectedly on April 23, 2026, at the age of 50, following a traffic accident while riding his bicycle. He was born at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, California, in May, 1975.

Ray spent most of his life in the Bay Area. He graduated from Reed High School in Sparks, Nevada, and went on to earn three Associate of Arts degrees from De Anza College in 2013—a testament to his stubborn resilience and his curiosity about the world. He was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley, but chose to leave school early to begin his career.

Professionally, Ray built a reputation as a skilled specialist in accounts receivable and collections. He was effective and results-driven, known for getting the job done.

But Ray's life was never defined by his work. It was defined by the people in it. He was outgoing, gregarious, helpful, and kind—a person who made friends wherever he went and held a genuine interest in their lives. He was the friend who showed up on moving day, who quietly picked up the bar tab, who called to check in when someone was going through a hard time. There is no single story that captures who he was, because there were hundreds of small acts of kindness, scattered across decades, remembered now by the many people who were lucky enough to know him.

Ray loved golf and played weekly with his friends, who he treasured above all else. He loved to travel. He loved riding his bicycle and would often ride twenty miles or more in a single day, finding joy in the open road and the feel of motion. He was a devoted son who lived with and helped care for his mother, and a loving uncle who, though distance kept him from his niece and nephew much of the time, took deep interest in their lives and delighted in watching them play water polo.

Ray was preceded in death by his uncles, William Thon and Russell Thon.

Ray is survived by his mother, Donna Smith; his father, Paul Smith Sr.; his older brother, Paul Smith Jr.; his niece and nephew, Adrineh Smith and Jonah Smith; his aunt, Ruth Filbert; his cousins Jennifer Filbert, Amy Collins, Katie Filbert, Lindsey Smith, Evan Smith, Benjamin Thon, and Catherine Pokipala; and the wide circle of friends he considered family.

A celebration of Ray's life will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Old Greenwood BBQ at Sunken Gardens Golf Course in Sunnyvale, California. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition in Ray's memory, or to the memorial fund established to help cover final expenses.

Ray's absence will be felt at every dinner table, every golf course, every gathering of the friends and family who loved him. He is gone too soon, and he is missed beyond measure.

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