Ralph J. Messinger Jr.

WELLSVILLE Ralph J. Messinger, Jr., 53, died Thursday morning, March 5, 2009, at his home following a 14 month courageous battle with melanoma cancer. He was the loving husband of Arlene (Angelastio) Messinger. The couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary November 25, 2008. He was born March 25, 1955, in Dover, a son of the late Ralph J. and Pauline S. (Weigle) Messinger. Ralph was a 1974 graduate of Dover High School. He worked with the Newberry Township road crew and was a self-employed auto body mechanic. Ralph was a member of New Life Baptist Church, New Cumberland. He was also a member of Teamsters Local Union No. 776 where he was a steward, Shiloh American Legion Post 791, and the Fireman's Club, Goldsboro. Ralph enjoyed baseball, soccer, fixing up street rods, riding motorcycle, and hunting, especially at his hunting camp in Franklin County. Most of all, he loved playing with his grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Ralph is survived by two daughters, Jessica L. Hernandez and husband, Carlos of Artesia, N.M., and Shelly J. Reider and husband, Darrell of Mount Joy; two stepdaughters, Shavonne Santanna and Nicole Burgos, both of Camp Hill; grandchildren, Hunter Souders and Evynn Reider; stepgrandchildren, Mitch and Aubrey Reider, Alexia Santanna, and Elijah Wilburn; two brothers, Philip Snyder of Dover and Merle Messinger of York; and a foster brother, Donald Green of Wellsville. He was preceded in death by a brother, Carl Messinger. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral at 11 a.m and the viewing from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2009, at Emig Funeral Home, 47 N. Queen St., Dover. Following cremation, burial will be private in Suburban Memorial Gardens. Officiating will be the Rev. Mike Shuff, Associate Pastor of New Life Baptist Church.