Ralph H. Ketcham

Ralph H. Ketcham
SANTA ROSA, TX. - The bible tells us to ``Give honor where honor is due' (Romans 13:7). Today we honor Ralph Henry Ketcham, 89, who died Sunday, June 3 at his Santa Rosa, Texas home.
Ralph was born January 23, 1923 in Sanderson, Texas to Harry and Rose Ketcham. He moved to Santa Rosa when he was five months old and spent his youth on ``the hill' playing cowboys and Indians with his siblings, running through the orchards and cotton fields, swimming in the canals and surrounded by a large and loving family and group of friends.
After graduation in 1941 he attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville and worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad until he enlisted in the Marines, 3rd Battalion in 1942 as part of the ``Greatest Generation.' Ralph proudly served his country at Guam and Iwo Jima with friend W.B. Brown along with David Van Fleet, Leeroy Taylor, Chubby Herman and Sonny Meyers. After returning from service at the end of World War II, he married W.B.'s sister, Joyce, daughter of Iona and W.B. Brown Sr., on October 18, 1947 and they raised their family of four children: Fred, Nancy, Bonnie and Kay. He nurtured his family and faith in the United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa.
Ralph Ketcham was a man who knew how to work hard. He raised hogs on the family farm for many years and won numerous awards for his Hampshires hogs including the A&M Carcass Cutout Award. He also served as Swine Superintendent of the RGV Livestock Show. He was the Transportation Supervisor for the Missouri Pacific Lines and moved perishables out of the Valley. He later became Harlingen Yardmaster and retired as the Assistant Trainmaster for the Union Pacific Railroad.
After his retirement in 1983, Dad spent more time doing what he loved: fishing. He spent most of his fishing time at his ``honey hole' with close friends Thelis, Myrtle and Dickie Steele, Ralph Evans and son-in-law David. And because he took fishing seriously, he made sure all his grandchildren spent a good amount of time at the' honey hole' too. He taught them not only how to fish the right way, but how to enjoy the gifts God gives us on sunny afternoons sitting on the bay with Popo Ralph.
Another of his passions was gardening. Ralph fought the rabbits, worms and drought and always managed to have a beautiful vegetable garden in a plot of land he called ``God's Half Acre' next to the house. He enjoyed giving away his tomatoes and vegetables just as much as he enjoyed eating them. But ``God's Half Acre' was also a flower garden with beds of petunias, zinnias and blue bonnets, snuggled between citrus trees and oaks. It was his heaven on earth.
Ralph loved to work with his hands and after learning to build out of necessity, soon used that skill for the benefit of others. Along with David and church volunteers from the Valley and across the country, he spearheaded and built a beautiful Methodist church at La Mesa, a small colonia near Mercedes. And if retirement wasn't busy enough, he decided to learn how to cane furniture and went to work in the little house bringing back to life broken but loved chairs and rockers. Whether it was a church, a granddaughter's playhouse or an antique chair, Ralph was a craftsman.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father and his brother in law, W.B. Brown.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; brothers Harry (Francis) Ketcham and Pat (Montie) Ketcham, sisters Jacqueline Ketcham and Jody (Frank) Tyson. His children Fred (Sharon) Ketcham, Nancy (Mike) Yeary, Bonnie (David) Keener and Kay McCorkle. Grandchildren Schawn (Jason) Wreden, Blaine (Amy) Yeary, Lee (Christina) Yeary, Ryan (Stephanie) Pletcher, Hunter (Luci) Ketcham, Loraine (Hunter) Keath, Branden (Karley) Keener, Michelle (Matt) Smith, and Mary Yeary along with 15 great-grandchildren.
The family would also like to thank Mayra Azua, Stella Aguero, Vera Trevino and Odyssey Hospice for their loving care of Ralph which allowed him to remain at home.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Grace Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Santa Rosa United Methodist Church.
Funeral services are under the direction of Heavenly Grace Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Santa Rosa United Methodist Church or Loaves and Fishes.
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