Ralph W. Eberly

Ralph W. Eberly, 94, of West Hartford passed away suddenly on September, 24, 2012. Ralph was devoted to his family, especially his wife Ellen who predeceased him in 2003, his friends and church. He had many friends because he rarely made an enemy seeing only the best in everyone he met. At the age of twelve, he lost his father on Valentine's Day, 1930 in a car accident. With devotion his uncles and grandfather raised him to become the man we honored and loved. He loved to talk baseball especially about his Red Sox. A favorite story involved riding his bicycle on June 3, 1932 to Shibe Park for the Yankees- Philadelphia Athletics game where he witnessed Lou Gehrig's 4th home run of the day which came over the fence outside the stadium where he stood. Ralph graduated from Gratz High School in Philadelphia where he was president of the student council and a member of the basketball team. He graduated in 1942 from Drexel University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He was the president of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. While at Drexel he held industry session jobs at Wassels' Bakery, Scott Paper Company and the US Post Office; he also worked at his grandfather's drug store where he worked as a soda jerk and delivery boy. During World War II he worked as a civilian engineer for the Army Signal Corp inspecting and testing wire, telephone poles and other items purchased for the war effort. Later in life, he became the Vice President of Schutte and Koerting Company, Instrument Division of Philadelphia, and later President of Whitlock Manufacturing Company of West Hartford. After retiring, he was a volunteer driver and dispatcher for the Red Cross in Farmington and served for many years on the Board of Directors of the former CT Bank and Trust. He was a member and President of the Instrument Society of Philadelphia and was also a 50 year member of the Palestine Roxborough Lodge of Masons. While a member of Reformation Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, he served as Sunday School Superintendent and Vice President of Church Council. At Grace Lutheran Church in Hartford, he was a Financial Secretary, and Vice President of Church Council. He will be greatly missed by his sons, Ralph Jr. and his wife Diane of Landing, NJ; John and Maureen of North Granby; and David of West Hartford. Also left to mourn his loss are his loving and devoted grandchildren: Christel Eberly, Aimee Eberly, Megan and Matthew Uricchio, Brian and Kira Eberly and great granddaughters, Alexa and Raelynn; Kimberly Gallagher and her son Matthew; Kevin Gallagher and his fiancée, Tina Buck-Frank and her children Hayley and Brady. Services will take place at 10:00 AM on Tuesday October 2, 2012 at Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home 136 South Main Street, West Hartford. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church 46 Woodland St. Hartford, CT. 06105 or The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. For oneline condolences and directions please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com

Ralph W. Eberly

September 24, 1918 - September 24, 2012