Ralph Leonard Haga Jr.

HAGA, Ralph Leonard Jr., son of the late Rev. Ralph L. Haga Sr. and Madge Gordan Weaver Haga, died at The Woodland, Farmville, on May 6, 2011. He was born in Fredericksburg on May 10, 1930. Ralph graduated from Randolph-Macon Academy in 1947 and from Randolph-Macon College in 1951. He later attended the University of Virginia School of Engineering. While awaiting call by the Army, he raised chickens for Bird's Eye on Virginia's Eastern Shore. After Officers Candidate School, he was an Ordinance Officer, stationed on the German-French border. Upon his discharge, Ralph bought a large farm near Prospect, where he raised crops and cattle - a venture in which he dubbed himself a "professional gambler." As a young man he enjoyed rabbit and deer hunting with his father and sister. Throughout his adult life, he owned a number of dogs and was once active in The Old Dominion Beagle Club. He recently lost his faithful dog, Cote. Ralph had a passion for music and sang with college glee clubs, church choirs and choral societies, Jefferson Choral Society of Lynchburg, Heart of Virginia Chorale and Commonwealth Chorale of Farmville. He often sang for weddings and funerals. His love for music carried over into participation in over 60 musicals and plays with as many as six theatre groups, including Waterworks Players of Farmville. His favorite role was as Emile de Becque in South Pacific, and his favorite solo was "Some Enchanted Evening." His favorite dramatization and solo was "Watch the Lamb" which he performed at various churches and Southside Emmaus gatherings. During the 2010 Christmas Season, he sang Handel's Messiah for the 71st consecutive year. Ralph was a creative storyteller who was known for his wit and puns as well as favorite nicknames for all his friends. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Nancy Anderson Haga; a sister, Elizabeth Gordon "Deets" Haga; a daughter, Laura Haga Rice (Mike) and grandson, Adam; a son, Jeffrey A. Haga and granddaughter, Julie, all of Farmville. Also surviving are his stepsons, Woody (Katie) and daughter, Alissa, and Trent Anderson of Norfolk, Raymond (Llew) and daughters, Erin and Emery Anderson, of Richmond, Morgan (Karen) and daughters, Dorothy and Johanna Anderson, of Huntersville, N.C., and Peyton (Mariah) and children, Carter, Cabell and Liz Anderson of Raleigh, N.C.; as well as cousins, Bryan M. Haga (Diane) of Chester and Mary Haga Doermann (Perry) of Medina, Ohio. His former wife Pauline Boehm Haga predeceased him. A musical celebration for Ralph, which he personally planned, will be held at the Farmville United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 22, at 2 p.m., with visitation and reception to follow at Longwood University Rotunda. A private committal service for his ashes will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Farmville United Methodist Church Adult Choir, P.O. Box 64, Farmville, Va. 23901, The Commonwealth Chorale, 24 W. Wilson Dr., Rice, Va. 23966, The Waterworks Players, 204 Georgia St., Farmville, Va. 23901, or the Pauline Boehm Haga Music Scholarship, Longwood University, 201 High St., Farmville, Va. 23901. Cremation Society of Virginia-Southside, Inc. is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at cremationofvirginia.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.