Ralph Carmichael, 90, died on Thursday, July 10, 2014, at Shady Lawn Retirement Community in Dalton, Ohio.
Ralph was born in Hull, England, on May 1, 1924, to Gladys and Harry Carmichael. During WWII, he served in the 2nd. Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment of the British Army in India. His regiment fought in the Battle of Imphal in Northern India with the 14th. Army. He also served in Penang, Malaya, before returning to England after the war with the rank of Sergeant.
Ralph emigrated to the United States in May 1955, when he married Dorothy Betts (nee Shepherd) n Bluffton, Ohio. She preceded him in death in 1992. He retired from RCA in 1988.
Ralph was a member of the former Bluffton Masonic Lodge No. 432, Mt. Cory Masonic Lodge 418 and Shawnee Commandery No. 14, where he served as officer in several capacities. He was also a member of the Order of Scottish Clans in Ohio.
He is survived by three sisters: Joy (Jeffrey) Joy in Lincoln, England, Violet (Peter) Berend in Wooster, Ohio, Mary (Robin) Banerjea in Hyderabad, India, and one brother, John (Dawn) Carmichael in Hull, England; two stepsons, Michael (Patricia) Betts, Lima, Ohio, and Ian (Ester) Betts; grandchildren Karen, Jon, Christopher, and Dorothy, and three great grandchildren, Cody, Emma, and Peyton. One grandchild preceded him in death.
Funeral services will begin at noon on Tuesday, July 15 at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton. Rev. Dr. Thomas McDonald will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. with a Masonic service beginning at 1:45 pm.
Those who wish may make contributions to:
Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc.
1033 Long Prairie Road, Suite 5
Flower Mound, TX 75022-4230
Hospice & Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County
2525 Back Orrville Road
Wooster, OH 44691
Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
