Grover Ralph Eakin

G. Ralph Eakin, 91, of Roanoke, Va., went to heaven on December 21, 2010, surrounded by his family. Preceding him in death were his parents, Grover and Louie Eakin; two brothers, John H. Eakin Sr. and Gordon L. Eakin; and three sisters, Eleanor Weeks, Delores Kenneally and Ethel Alexander. After graduating from New Castle High School in Craig County, Eakin played professional baseball. He pitched for the Bluefield Bluegrays in 1937, 1938 and 1939. The Bluegrays were a farm team for the Pittsburg Pirates. Ralph served as a Virginia State Trooper from 1939 to 1974. He competed on the Department's National Match Pistol Team and was a member of its first Sniper Team. Eakin worked Roanoke and surrounding counties during World War II and then Highland County, where he met Malen. He, then, worked 9 years in Roanoke County and spent the last 10 years of his career as a Trooper in Botetourt County. Ralph was an avid hunter and fisherman as well as a devoted husband and father.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years Malen C. Eakin; one daughter, Kellan E. Farmer and husband, Neil; three sons, Lenden Eakin and wife, Kimberly, Lowell Eakin and wife, Leslie and Samuel Eakin and wife, Diane; five grandchildren, Joshua Eakin and wife, Maria, Benjamin Eakin, Mariah Eakin, Nathan Eakin and Grace Eakin; two sisters-in-law, Shirley and Elizabeth Eakin; six sisters, Muriel Henery, Sue Lawson, Irene Wieneke, Melby Kearney, Margaret Herman and Willie Tucie and husband, Larry; and numerous nieces and nephews. Please, consider donations to the Virginia State Police Association, Emergency Relief Fund, in memory of Trooper Eakin, 6944 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Va., 23225.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 27, 2010, at Oakey's North Chapel. State Police Chaplain First Sgt. Michael Honaker, the Rev. Paul StClair and Pastor Lorraine Taylor will officiate. Interment will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens with honors by the Virginia State Police Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from noon until service time on Monday at Oakey's North Chapel, 540-362-1237.