Ralph E. Stover, 95, a lifelong resident of Bellefonte, passed away on June 18, 2010, at Centre Crest Nursing home in Bellefonte.
Ralph was born in Coleville on June 22, 1914. He was the son of the late Jesse Poorman Stover and Lloyd Stover. He attended Bellefonte schools and played guard on the high school football team. Ralph married Grace Zeigler in 1933. They had three daughters, Betty, Jean and Judy. Grace passed away in 1994.
Ralph held many jobs during his life. As a young man, he worked on a road maintenance crew for the county. Later he worked for many years delivering bread for the Olde Tyme Bakery. In 1977 he retired from Pennsylvania State University where he had worked for 20 years.
Ralph was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Encampment, Crystal Springs Rebekah Lodge and the Odd Fellows for many years. For most of his life Thursday night was Odd Fellows night. Often after their lodge meeting, he and his friends enjoyed a game of pinochle. Until he was well into his eighties, he marched in parades and cooked and sold steak sandwiches at Grange Fair for the Tall Cedars of Lebanon.
In his retirement he spent many hours in his workshop crafting knick-knacks for the annual bazaar at Trinity United Methodist Church, where he was a member. He also volunteered with RSVP and the Bellefonte Historical Railroad. In his later years one of Ralph's greatest joys was the arrival of each new great grandchild. He delighted in babies and little ones. Ralph will be missed by his large and loving family.
He is survived by his daughters, Betty Kantner, Jean and her husband, Don Murphy, Judy and her husband, Joe Coleman; by his eight grandchildren, David Kantner, Lisa Kantner Schwartz, Susan Kantner Clouser, Debra Murphy, Michael Murphy, Steven Murphy, Cindy Coleman and Patrick Coleman and their spouses; and by his eleven great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Hilda Conaway. He was predeceased by his wife, Grace; son-in-law, Ott Kantner; six sisters: Irene Brooks, Madeline Spearly, Pauline Meek, Grace Houser, Jean Taylor and Eunice Finley; and two brothers, Donald and Lloyd.
Friends and relatives are invited to a public visitation on Monday, June 21, 2010, at Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc., 206 N. Spring St., Bellefonte PA, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. with the funeral service immediately following at 12 p.m. Monday, with Reverend Andrew Morgan officiating. Burial will follow at Centre County Memorial Park, College Township.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ralph's memory may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004, or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.