Ralph S. Hoyt Sr.

Ralph S. Hoyt, Sr., of Beechwood Drive, Burnt Hills, passed away Tuesday afternoon, March 21, 2017 at Saratoga Wesley Health Care Center. He was born January 19, 1926 in East Orange, NJ and was the son of the late Myron and Belle (Lewis) Hoyt. Ralph was the loving husband of Dorothy (Fryer), whom he married 65 years ago after their graduation from Bates College. He was the devoted father to Ralph "Dan" (Teresa) Hoyt, Jr. of Ocala, FL; Cheryl Smith of Glenville, NY and David G. (Sue) Hoyt, Sr. of Satellite Beach, FL. Grandchildren include Kate (Joshua) Yates of Greensboro, NC; Adam Hoyt of Ocala, FL; Jennifer Hoyt of Ocala, FL; Myra (Arthur) Harris of Waterbury, VT; Capt. David (Ansley) Hoyt, Jr. of Hoboken, NJ; Lindsay (Michael) Stratton of Winnabow, NC; Tyler Hoyt of Tampa, FL and one great-granddaughter, Emmie Lee Stratton. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Ruth (Clifton) Foster of Gray, ME and brother-in-law, George (Helen) Fryer of Concord, NH and many caring nieces and nephews. Ralph was predeceased by siblings, Myra (Hoyt) Buonocore and Neal Hoyt. Ralph was a combat WW2 veteran Signalman 3rd Class, serving on USS Douglas L. Howard Destroyer Escort in the Atlantic and Pacific, on active duty until June 1946. After graduate studies at Bates College in Chemical Engineering he was first employed in the leather industry and several years later went into the pressure sensitive tape industry as manufacturing engineer at Behr-Manning in Watervliet, which later became Nashua Corp, retiring in 1990. Ralph pioneered development of a fully automated computer controlled manufacturing process for pressure sensitive tape, an industry first, implemented in Watervliet. Ralph advanced up through the engineering organization to the position of Plant Manager. His many interests included home building projects and gardening. He was very much involved with his children and church activities. He and his wife taught high school Sunday School classes; were advisors for the youth programs and organized a weekly Singles Supper Club—an interdenominational weekly program for college-career Young Adults. In these programs, they shared their love of the outdoors with group camping trips, hiking, and boating. Relatives and friends are invited to a Funeral Service on Thursday, March 30th at 11am at Burnt Hills United Methodist Church, 8l6 Route 50, Burnt Hills, NY. Pastor Holly Nye will officiate. A reception and lunch will follow in Knight Hall at the church. Interment with military honors will be Friday, March 31, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Rd., Schuylerville, NY. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made in Ralph's memory to Burnt Hills United Methodist Church Youth/Young Adult Programs or Saratoga Community Hospice, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. The family would like to thank Saratoga Hospice and Wesley Hathorn 3 for their kind and compassionate care for Ralph this past year.