Ralph Detzel

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP - Ralph Detzel loved dogs.

"He was known as the 'Man who talked to dogs,' " said Nick Detzel, the eldest of his four sons. "He used to say he liked dogs better than people."

Mr. Detzel, who died Aug. 26, trained field champion beagles for about 40 years before retiring 15 years ago. He was 77.

For many years , Mr. Detzel, a member of the American Kennel Club, operated a kennel outside his Colerain Township home with between 10 and 15 beagles at a time.

"Those were his outside dogs," said his son. "He always had a mutt in the house."

Mr. Detzel, who grew up in Norwood, enlisted in the Army before graduating from high school.

A member of the Army's 187th Airborne Regiment, he served during the Korea War from 1950 to 1952, making numerous parachute jumps, said son Eric Detzel, who like his older brother lives in Colerain Township.

"One time he landed in a tree in Korea and ended up spending time in a hospital in Okinawa with a back injury," Eric said.

After the war, Mr. Detzel returned to Cincinnati and met his future wife, Mary Fisher, at a dance club.

"My dad loved to dance. He taught dancing for a couple years. That's where he met my mother," Nick said.

Mr. Detzel and his wife celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on May 25.

A diesel mechanic, Mr. Detzel worked for several different companies, including Square D and Toys "R" Us, before retiring.

"My dad was a family guy," Nick said. "He was always there for his sons attending sporting events, in scouting and when my brothers were in to drag racing, he always attended their races."

Mr. Detzel also was active in veterans groups. He was a life member of the Rakkasans, an organization of former 187th regiment members, and a member of the 82nd Airborne Division Association.

Mr. Detzel regularly participated in visits to local schools, where veterans in uniform would talk about their military service.

"He was my buddy," said Bob Heath of Bellevue, who met Mr. Detzel in the 82nd Airborne Division Association. "You could never sell Ralph short. He'd always be the first one there and ask where you'd been."

Several years ago, Mr. Detzel received an honorary diploma from Norwood High School with other veterans who enlisted before graduation, Eric said.

In addition to his wife and sons, survivors include two other sons, Jay Detzel and Jack Detzel, both of Harrison; a sister, Ramona Simon of Grand Haven, Mich.; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

Services have been held.

Memorials: Kidney Foundation, 2200 Victory Parkway, No. 510, Cincinnati, OH 45206-2837; or www.kidney.org.

Written by Mike Boyer | mboyer@enquirer.com