Obituary of Raymond C. Finch

Raymond C. "Sonny" Finch, Jr., 65, of 263 Fairmount Ave., died at 8:50 p.m. Monday, March 11, 2013 in his home. He was born June 18, 1947 in Jamestown, a son of the late Raymond C. and Gladys Pederson Finch, Sr. Sonny was employed for 14 years by the former Firch Baking Co. in Jamestown and recently retired after 23 years with Jamestown Electro-Plating. He was a member of the Martin Road Christian Fellowship. Sonny raced cars at Stateline Speedway from 1965 until the late 1980's and continued to sneak into his grandson's race car every chance that he could. He was the Spectator Class point champion in 1982 and always knocking on the champion's tail. Never one to give up, Sonny once won a race with his hood up and his head looking out the side window. He also loved Horner's Junk Yard; whenever he went to Horner's, his family considered him 'missing in action' for awhile. Brian Horner and Sonny became best friends over the years. He looked forward to camping at his daughter and son-in-law's home during the summer. While Sonny enjoyed fishing and 4-wheeling with his grand and great-grandsons, his granddaughters were the apple of his eye. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Barr Finch, whom he married September 13, 1986; four daughters: Cindy (Stan) Davis of Busti, Marsha (Ernie) Confer and Tina (Jeff) Keeler, both of Jamestown, and Sonya Finch of North Carolina; four sons: Donald (Rose) Barr of Busti, Ronald (Angela) Barr of West Palm Beach, FL, and Raymond and Ricky Finch, both of Jamestown; 30 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Larry (Denise) Finch of Frewsburg and Timothy (Patty) Finch of Russell, PA; two sisters: Jean Ickes of Youngsville, PA and Bonnie Piazza of Falconer; and many nieces and nephews, including Gary Golden, whose special help and care recently is greatly appreciated by all. Sonny will also be missed by his dogs, Rocky and Adrian. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Cressid Ryno in 2011; a granddaughter, Ashley Barr in 1983; a sister, Diane Davis in 2012; and a brother, Barry Finch, Sr. in 2004. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. Pastor Larry Summers of the Martin Road Christian Fellowship will officiate. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and for one hour prior to the service in the funeral home Friday. Memorials may be made to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.