Billy Dean Raab, was born the fourth child and second son of Fred Christian and Freely Verdie (Mallory) Raab, on June 29, 1930, in Eldora, Iowa. He entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland, Maryland at the age of 95 years, 2 months, 19 days.
Billy’s early life was spent growing up near Eldora, Iowa, where he attended a one room country school during his elementary years. He attended high school in Eldora, graduating from Eldora High School with the Class of 1948.
On November 29, 1948, Billy joined the United States Air Force. His military training started when he went to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He was trained in Ariel Photography at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, Colorado and continued photography training in Pensacola, Florida. He then transferred to Korea for about a year, at which time he separated from the Air Force, as a Corporal with an honorable discharge, on September 28, 1952.
He received a letter of appreciation from his commanding officer, Jacob W. Dixon Lt. Col. USAF 67th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, for surpassing all records achieved in combat, in the history of the Air Force, in one day of operations under adverse combat conditions. He was awarded AFS Senior Photographer (23250), as well as a Good Conduct Medal and two battle stars.
His career in the telecommunications industry started in Radcliffe, Iowa, when he went to work changing switchboard telephones to dial phones from 1958 to 1962. From 1962 until 1967 he was Plant Superintendent at the Union/Whitten Cooperative Telephone Co. in Union, Iowa. From 1967 to 1977 he became General Manager of the IAMO Telephone Co. in southern Iowa and northern Missouri. He served as Co-chairman of the Iowa Telephone Association (ITA) Golf Committee and also served on the ITA legislative Committee. He retired on March 1st, 1993.
During the latter years of working with IAMO Telephone Co., Billy became the founder and CEO of the first cell phone company in southern Iowa and northern Missouri. “Cellular 29 Plus” is now a multistate cell phone corporation called “Chat Mobility”.
On July 3, 1954, Billy married the love of his life, Thelma Rae Vinton, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. He was a loving husband and a devoted father with a great work ethic. He loved to fish and golf. He was talented in art, woodworking and photography.
Preceding Billy in death were his parents; wife, Thelma; one brother, Dallas Raab; two sisters, Dorothy Wing and Hazel Freeman. Left to cherish his memory are his two stepsons, Robert Kellogg and wife Paula of Salisbury, MD, and James Kellogg and wife Donna of Mason City, IA; son, Jerold Raab and wife Lori of Leaky, TX; two daughters, Deborah Spruill and husband Jimmie of Beaufort, NC, and Sharon Jefferys of Terra Alta, WV; seven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 2:00 pm at the Veterans Memorial Chapel located at Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah with Pastor Noel Gandy officiating. Military rites will be accorded by the Offutt Air Force Honor Guard and the Shenandoah American Legion Post #88. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery next to his wife Thelma. Memorials in Billy’s name may be directed to the Nazarene Church in Terra Alta, WV, or to the Terra Alta Animal Shelter. Locally, memorials can be directed to Nishna Productions, Inc. in Shenandoah or People For Paws.
