Ralph T. King

1929 - 2018

Ralph T. King

Vero Beach, FL

Ralph T. King of Vero Beach, Fla., who was a civic-minded entrepreneur and avid golfer, died April 13. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Ralph graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Dartmouth College, and then married his beloved wife of 57 years, Jane B. King, who predeceased him. After Ralph's three years in the U.S. Navy, the couple moved to Cleveland where they lived for 23 years and raised four children.

Ralph worked for National City Bank of Cleveland for five years before launching a business career as treasurer and eventually chairman of Structural Fibers, Inc. (later renamed Essef Corp. and sold to Pentair, Inc. in 1999). In 1962, he founded Custom Beverage Packers, Inc. a bottler and canner of carbonated beverages. For 23 years, he was a director of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

In 1975, Ralph served as interim headmaster of Hawken School, the Cleveland independent school attended by his three sons. In 1977, following Ralph's open-heart surgery, the couple moved to Vero Beach where Ralph had vacationed as a boy. Alan, Ralph's youngest son, attended St. Edward's School in Vero Beach and Dartmouth, much to his father's delight.

Always active in civic affairs, Ralph was treasurer and a director of the Vero Beach YMCA and then treasurer and a director of the United Way of Indian River County, which named its lifetime service award after him. He served on the Indian River Memorial Hospital Board and the Vero Beach Planning and Zoning Board, acting as chairman for three years, and was secretary/treasurer and a director of the Civic Association of Indian River County. As a founder and board member of the Riomar Neighborhood Association, Ralph warned county commissioners about the surge of housing tracts planned by out-of-area builders that would have forced existing homeowners to pay for new infrastructure.

Ralph's passion for golf led him to join the United States Seniors Golf Association and he served on its Board of Governors for ten years. He founded the Indian River Invitational Tournament and was chairman of the USSGA Invitational Tournaments Committee. He recorded seven holes-in-one during his golfing career.

When two hurricanes in 2004 irreparably damaged their house, Ralph and Jane moved to nearby Oak Harbor and lived along the golf course. Jane died of neurological problems in 2008. Until his demise, Ralph continued playing bridge and dining with friends at the Oak Harbor Club.

Ralph is survived by his children, Lindsay Rahl and her husband Craig Rahl of Chesapeake, Va., Ralph King Jr. and his wife Leslie Chin of Portola Valley, Calif., Douglas F. King and his wife Cyndy King of Sun Valley, Idaho, and Alan King and his wife Monica King of Kalaheo, Hawaii; a brother Warren King and his wife Barry King of Ripton, Vt.; eight grandchildren, Courtney Miller, Christopher Rahl, Jaline King, Tucker King, Clarissa King, Douglas M. King, Andrew King, and Maximilian King; and three great-grandchildren, Tyson Miller, Brooklyn Miller, and Trayvon Miller.

Memorial donations may be made in Ralph's name to United Way of Indian River County and the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County.