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Ralph W. Smith Delta, OH QCWA # 29374 Chapter 142 |
Ralph W. Smith, age 81, of Delta, peacefully passed away at Swanton Health Care under hospice care on Saturday, November 19, 2016. He was born in Cygnet, OH on June 26, 1935, to the late Warren Smith and Jeanette (Oberholtzer) Smith. Ralph was a graduate of Mt. Blanchard High School and later served in the U.S. Army. On August 17, 1999 he married Ruth (Meienburg) Badenhop and she survives. Ralph retired from Teamsters Local #20; where he drove trucks for many years, most recently with Consolidated Trucking and later T&T Holland. Ralph enjoyed ham radio, fishing, hunting and spending time on his computer.
Along with his wife of 17 years, Ruth Smith; he is survived by his stepchildren, Thomas (Lois) Childress Sr. of Delta, Ella (Tim) Shelley of Swanton, Tom (Kathleen) Badenhop of Liberty Center and Tara Welling of Hicksville; sisters, Joann Stram of Findlay and Carol (Lynne) Cole of Morgantown, NC; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, Martha, he was preceded in death by his stepchildren, Paul and Del Childress, Linda Thacker, Scott Welling; sister, Janet Mains and grandchildren, Thomas D. Childress Jr. and infant Jamie Lynn Childress.
Friends will be received from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 21, 2016 at Barnes Funeral Chapel, 5825 St. Hwy. 109 in Delta. A funeral service celebrating Ralph's life will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5039 Co Rd G, Deshler, Ohio 43516. Pastor Peter Heyn will be officiating. Interment will follow at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at East Swanton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Tommy Childress Jr. Scholarship Fund, 504 Fernwood St., Delta, Ohio 43515, the Delta Fire and Rescue, 500 E. Main St., Delta, Ohio 43515 or Peace Evangelical Lutheran in his memory.
As Published in the Toledo Blade on Nov. 20, 2016
I have been operating since back in the very late 1960s. My interests in radio started young and was able to go through radio operator`s school in Darmstadt, Germany in 1955. We did not have a lot of operating from the Battalion level so did not get much operating practice and also did not have the equipment at the time. I was formerly WB8EPK and have always resided in Ohio except for the military time I was involved in. I like all aspects of operation but mostly making various contacts around the world. I use LOTW for logging. My wife and I are always interested in historical aspects of religion. Being Lutherans, we get involved in a lot of readings of Martin Luther. I retired from the transportation field after spending both civilian and military time riding around in semis around mostly the country east of the Mississippi River for almost 44 years. My occupation makes it easy to converse with many folks that dwell in those areas. The age here is 79 and really enjoy ragchewing on the air also collecting various wallpaper. I just enjoy visiting with folks on any subject you want to talk about.
