Ralph Erikson

GETTYSBURG Ralph Eriksen, 83, went to be with his Lord on August 20, 2015. Ralph served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked many faithful years, 32 for Smith Transfer and 18 for Viking Freight/Fed Ex. Even in his work, Ralph cared deeply about people and treated his clients and co-workers more like friends than colleagues. Ralph's love for friends, family, and the Lord shined through in many ways, through his passion for gardening and creating beautiful landscapes, through his dedication to his car club and the community he built over the shared interest in antiques and through his commitment to give back through numerous charitable causes, including handing out toys for Toys for Tots and ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. More than anything else, Ralph valued his relationships with friends and family. He was kind, compassionate, generous, funny, charming. And he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great-grandfather and friend. Ralph is survived by his wife, Barbara; his two daughters and their spouses, Debi and Chris Boyd of Littlestown and Tammy and Scott Morelen of Yorktown, Va.; and his four granddaughters and their families, Brya and BJ Mortimer and family of Hanover, Jennifer Morelen of Virginia Beach, Va., Diana Morelen Brand and Nathan Brand of Ann Arbor, Mich. and Janelle and Jason Driver of Hanover. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Monday, August 24, 2015 at the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, 208 Baltimore St., Gettysburg. A private burial will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery. The Monahan Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements. If you would like to make a donation in memory of Ralph, please consider the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church earmarked South Dakota Mission-children or earmarked Ruth's Harvest (a local food program for children in need. The family thanks you for your support during this time of loss. Online condolences may be made at monahanfuneralhome.com