Ralph left his earthly home in Montana on his 94th birthday to join our Blessed Lord in his eternal home. Gwen was waiting with arms wide open as were his mother Stella, his father, Eugene, his older brother Gene, his sister, Lorraine “Sissy” Clark, and his faithful dog, Chock. He is survived by sister Patsy Dealy of Houston TX and sister Peggy Rochelle of San Antonio, TX.
Ralph was a very fortunate fellow, always surrounded by family and friends who enjoyed his congenial nature and Christian kindness. To say he was a good Samaritan is truly descriptive of his life. Ralph “was well known for lending a helping hand and sharing God’s gifts of care and love with every person he met.
The members of his family who loved him dearly are:
5 children: Eugene “Gene” Nelson Seng of Bandera TX, Marcia Hoover and husband Robert of Franklin TN, Nancy Xander and husband Mark of Belgrade, MT, Barbara Battisto and husband Frank of Little Rock AR, and Teresa Mayo and husband Blaine of Plano TX.
7 Grandchildren: Christopher Allen Thomas and wife Jessica of Keystone Heights FL, Justin Raine Hoover and wife Amy of Bogue NC, Wesley Reid Hoover and wife Paige of Austin TX, Amanda Battisto Morris and husband John, Nicholas Battisto, Mia Lynn DeSimone, and Jack DeSimone.
7 Great-Grandchildren: James Ryder Thomas (15), Ryleigh Carolyn Thomas (11), Grady Abram Hoover (12), Caroline Wittier Hoover (9), Cecily Bowen Hoover (7), Owen Mark Morris (11), Barrett Ann Morris (8).
Aside from his love of family, he gathered a multitude of friends and they too became family. Beginning with his birthplace in San Antonio, Alamo Heights High School friends and Varsity Football buddies lovingly nicknamed him Souie. He joined the Marine Corps in 1951 and gained numerous Marine brothers from Camp Pendleton near San Diego. He was immensely active in church activities serving as usher, alter server, Eucharistic Minister, and a vibrant member of the Charismatic Renewal and Emmaus Prayer Groups. He was an Eagle Scout as a boy and rejoined the Boy Scouts as a Leader for the Alamo Area Council in San Antonio. He coached Little League Baseball, was an avid sportsman/fisherman with his father and a group of fisherman buddies as well as ensuring efficient fishing skills for each of his children and any other child he could coax to hold a fishing pole. His long-standing career as a traveling Salesman for several food brokers and then Diamond Match, enlarged his footprint of friends, acquaintances and lots of Good ‘ol Boys and Gals everywhere. He was a dedicated and active lifetime member of the Republican National Party. He tremendously enjoyed fellowship as a member of the Maury Regional Hospital Men’s Auxiliary spreading his cheer, magazines, books and snacks to hospital patients and caregivers in Columbia, TN. Ralph was an active parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Columbia, TN and a long-standing member of the Knights of Columbus both in Memphis and Columbia, TN. Even as a resident of NHC Place in Franklin, TN and also at Spring Creek Inn in Bozeman MT, Ralph’s outspoken positivity and genuine interest in knowing people impacted everyone he met. The light of his presence will be truly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers: In Ralph’s will he specifically requested, “that no one send flowers, instead send your donations to the Pregnancy Center of Columbia or to the Tennessee Right-to-Life. The family extends this request to also include the March of Dimes or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Saturday, October 28, 2023
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Central time)
St Catherine's Church
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