Raymond Herbert Hahn

Raymond H. Hahn’s Story

Raymond Herbert Hahn was born February 18, 1922 to James and Freda Hahn in Charleston, South Carolina. Ray was the youngest of their five children. His siblings were Ruth, Paul, Stanley and Russell. Ray is survived by two half-brothers from his father’s second marriage, Billy and Jack Hahn.

Ray and his siblings started working as children at a young age to help their mother financially. Those times were even more difficult due to the fact that Ray’s father was permanently absent from the home from the time Ray was only 1 year old. Ray started boxing at age 6. When Ray entered his early teenage years, life was extremely difficult due to the Great Depression. Boxing and keeping in top physical shape was the perfect escape for him. Ray won the Silver Glove Championship trophy in his weight division for the state of South Carolina at age 16. At age 18, Ray won the Golden Glove Championship trophy in his weight division for the state of South Carolina. Ray graduated from the Murray Vocational Trade School in 1940 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Due to the influence of a Godly mother, Ray accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior as a young boy and was baptized, professing his faith publicly. God used the well-known pastor of the First Baptist Church of Charleston, Vance Havner to mentor and begin shaping Ray for a life of Christian service.

From 1940-1944, Ray worked at the Charleston shipyard as a civil servant ship fitter. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Ray and his under workers ran to the recruiter’s office to join the Navy. They would not let them in because they were considered essential workers, building destroyers. Ray and his buddies went to the recruiter’s office for 25 consecutive months trying to join the Navy. Finally, in February of 1944 they wore down the recruiters and they allowed Ray and his gang of guys to join the Navy. Ray served as a ship fitter during WWII. Three months after Ray completed basic training he was promoted from E1 (Seamen) to E6 (First Class Petty Officer) in one shot! During these war years, Ray served on the east and west coast of the United States and overseas for 6 months, for the most part in Okinawa, Japan working hand in hand with US Marines, and shorter stints in the Philippines and in Shanghai.

Ray met Jacquelyn June Seeley at a USO dance in her hometown of Reseda, CA. They fell in love very quickly. They got engaged shortly before Ray shipped out overseas. Shortly after Ray returned from overseas they were married on February 28, 1946. Ray joined the Navy to help win the war and he felt he accomplished his goal. In May 1946 Ray was honorably discharged from the Navy. Ray then designed and built his first new house, single handedly at age 24 to provide for his new bride and future children.

Ray and Jackie started their family in Reseda, CA. Their first child, Raymond Allan Hahn followed by John Sheldon Hahn. In 1955, they took this small family and became missionaries in Cuba for two years. When Castro took power, he kicked out all of the foreign Protestant missionaries and pastors. After returning from Cuba, Ray completed his studies at BIOLA where he earned his four year bachelor’s degree in Christian Theology. Ray was active in his church as a layman and worked full time as a self-employed plumber in Reseda, CA. During this time they had their third son, David Paul Hahn. About a year later Ray was called to San Diego, CA and became the senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Pacific Beach. In the early 1970’s Ray merged their church with Clairemont Baptist Church and it became Clairemont Emmanuel Baptist Church. Ray was a tremendous builder! With Ray leading the way, the sanctuary building followed by the fellowship hall building was constructed by the congregation with mostly volunteer labor. At age 62 he retired in February of 1984 after serving 26 years as the Senior Pastor.

Ray never stopped serving the Lord. During and after his pastorate he continued to actively work with Mexican Medical Inc., other Christian ministries was an active member of the Clairemont Hills Kiwanis Club. Ray loved traveling the world visiting & encouraging missionaries that sprang from this church. Ray was the most generous man that everyone in his family ever knew. One of Ray's favorite sayings, that all of his immediate family has heard him say is, “I have been trying to out give God my whole life, and I just can’t do it!”

Next to leading people to Jesus, the three things that Ray loved to do the most were: working physically with his hands, fishing and playing golf. Ray preferred deep sea fishing; he always called freshwater fishing “Rinky dink fishing.” He caught huge tunas, a very large marlin, and a 215 lb. halibut to mention a few. Ray loved promoting big Christian golf tournaments for Mexican Medical, Convoy of Hope and Youth for Christ. He raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for them over the decades. The last time Ray played golf was with his son Ray, about one month before he went to heaven at age 99.

The Lord called Ray to heaven on May 3, 2021. Ray followed his beloved Jackie who was called to heaven four months earlier. They were married 75 years on this earth. They will live in the presence of God for eternity.

Ray is survived by his three sons: Raymond Allan Hahn (wife Olivia), John Sheldon Hahn (wife Sumer), David Paul Hahn (wife Jana). His 8 grandchildren: Raymond Allen Hahn’s children: Raymond Allan Hahn Jr., Christine Hahn Vazquez (husband Bill) and Colleen Hahn Gonzales. John Sheldon Hahn’s children: Dustin Hahn (wife Christina), Christopher Hahn (wife Mandie) and Cherylyn Hahn Nowakowski (husband Brian). David Paul Hahn’s children: David Paul Hahn II (wife Ashley), and Daniel James Hahn. Ray’s 16 great grandchildren: Raymond Allan Hahn’s Grandchildren: Janna Vazquez Martinez (husband John), Ian Hahn, Elle McGivney (deceased),Raymond Allan Hahn III, Ryan Hahn (wife Megan), Robert Gonzales, Victoria Vazquez Clow (husband Shane), Alayna Hahn, Lindsey Gonzales, Alyssa Hahn Sochi (husband Luis). John Sheldon Hahn’s grandchildren: Azalia Hahn, Scarlett Hahn, Lela Nowakowski, Owen Nowakowski. David Paul Hahn’s grandchildren: Anastasia Capri Hahn, and David Paul Hahn III. Ray’s 10 great great grandchildren: Raymond Allan Hahn’s great grandchildren: Matthew Hahn, Sienna Martinez, Jude Taylor, Janessa Sankey, Brielle Martinez, Johnathan Martinez, Noah Clow, Alanis Clow, Dixie Charlotte May Jones and Autumn Alyssa Andrews.

Raymond Herbert Hahn lived a long and purposeful life! He served God and helped countless individuals, both spiritually and materially. He leaves behind a very meaningful legacy. To God be the glory for a life well lived!