Raymond Shields Spitz

Raymond Shields Spitz passed away April 11, 2023, in Sandpoint, Idaho, surrounded by his niece, sister-in-law and two best friends. 

Ray was born in Miami Beach, Fla., to Raymond and Mary Spitz on Oct. 3, 1942. As the son of an Air Force officer, he spent a large portion of his youth in Japan. He attended school there, was a Boy Scout and an altar boy. 

He began his career in the United States Air-force in 1960 at the Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill. 

He was with the NASA Gemini program (prior to Apollo) 1963-64. He was a propulsion technician for the Atlas ICBM missile on launchpad 12 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, as well as the Apollo 11 rocket. 

Ray went on to be an engineer, setting up a manufacturing facility for semiconductor display systems and worked for IBM, where he met the love of his life, Kathryn Irene Needs, whom he fondly called “Kat.” They were married Aug. 21, 1974, on family property in North Idaho. 

He spent some time building log homes with his wife’s brother, Dennis Needs (wife Barbara) of Mountain Gem Log Homes. He said, “it was different and got me out of a suit and tie, and carrying a chain saw was a lot of fun.” He produced the Mountain Gem Log Homes TV commercials in the 1980s. 

He is preceded in death by both of his parents, his mother- and father-in-law; his wife, Kathryn; sister-in-law Patricia Hansen; and brother-in-law Dennis Needs. 

He is survived by his daughter, Angela Spitz Garcia; brothers-in-law Larry Needs, Terry Needs and Jeff (Carlene) Needs; sister-in-law Barbara Needs and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews on his wife’s side. 

His memorial will be held at the VFW Hall in Priest River, Idaho, on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 1 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, Ray would appreciate your donation to The Wounded Warriors program.