News Staff Report
Raymond L. “Ray” Bolden, who is best known locally as the long-time president of Atmore’s United Bank, passed away Thursday, November 18, at the age of 90.
Mr. Bolden spent his entire career in banking. He served as top executive of the local bank from 1969 until 1992, moving to Atmore with his family in 1970.
He was married for 64 years to the former Joyce Mae Busenlehner, who was instrumental in establishing the community’s library system and served as director of Atmore Public Library for 30 years. She preceded him in death on June 20, 2019.
Known as a private person but a prankster, Mr. Bolden was an avid golfer and a long-time member of Atmore Country Club. He was also a member of ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out), an informal group of local men who gathered weekly to share breakfast and fellowship.
A U.S. Navy veteran, he was active throughout his life in a variety of sports and related activities. Mr. Bolden was drafted by Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates.
He enjoyed flying and owned and piloted several small planes. In September, on his 90th birthday, he was able to check off one of his long-time goals of skydiving, leaping from a plane with his good friend, Mayor Jim Staff.
Immediate survivors include his son, Raymond “Randy” L. Bolden Jr., biological daughters Deborah “Debbie” Bolden and Cynthia “Cindy” Bolden and adopted daughter Amy Cabaniss. (Ray and Joyce Bolden were responsible for having Cindebran Drive so named. The street name is derived from the first three letters of Cindy’s, Debbie’s and Randy’s names.)
A full obituary is published on Page 3 of this edition.