Robert Smith Raines

Robert S. Raines, 75, of Ambler, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at home on October 9, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Known to many as Bob, he was born in Philadelphia on April 4, 1951, to Herbert S. Raines and Margaret Pauline Swartz. He grew up in the Oak Lane section of Philadelphia and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Franklin & Marshall College.

Bob was a gifted storyteller with a lifelong passion for journalism and photography. From 1974 until his retirement in 2018, he enjoyed a distinguished career as a staff photographer for Montgomery Publishing Company, documenting the people, events, and everyday moments that shaped communities throughout the region. His work appeared in the Ambler Gazette, Times Herald, Glenside News, Public Spirit, and numerous other publications. Equally at home working with film or digital photography, Bob captured an extraordinary range of subjects, from community celebrations and parades to natural disasters, political rallies, sporting events, and performances. His assignments even brought him face-to-face with four sitting U.S. presidents.

Through his photographs, Bob became part of the lives and memories of countless local families. Parents and grandparents who opened the Ambler Gazette often found their children featured in stories about elementary school activities, scouting, and other community events. Bob had a particular talent for sports photography, capturing the energy, drama, and excitement of the game in a single frame. Yet those who knew him primarily through his news photography may not have realized the remarkable beauty he also found in landscapes, nature, and the quieter moments beyond the headlines.

Outside of his work, Bob had a wide range of interests and talents. He loved animals, beginning with a beloved childhood springer spaniel, Cricket, and later sharing his home with his dogs, Baby and Hazel, and his cat, Buzz. He enjoyed reading, boating, hiking, and vacationing in the Adirondacks. A natural problem-solver with a passion for fixing things, Bob became a skilled woodworker, building furniture and renovating his home. He also had a deep interest in genealogy, patiently researching family histories and creating family trees not only for his own relatives but for others as well.

Bob will be remembered for his keen eye, his curiosity about the world, and his ability to preserve meaningful moments for others. Through decades of photographs, he left behind a lasting visual record of the people and communities he served—a legacy that will continue to be treasured by generations to come.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Ledlie. He is survived by his wife, Christine; his son, Evan; his daughter-in-law, Emily; his granddaughter, Margaret; his brother-in-law, Jay; his sister-in-law, Wilella; his brother-in-law, Stephen; his sister-in-law, Kathy; and his nieces, Margaret and Maria, and nephews, Danny and Christopher.

Bob was known to his nieces as Uncle Cookie for his many Cookie Monster impressions.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Wissahickon Trails, 12 Morris Road, Ambler, PA 19002-5499.

A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be held on Friday, October 30th in the morning at Calvary United Methodist Church, 16 E. Park Avenue, Ambler, PA 19002. Time and details to follow.