Ralph W. Stahl

Ralph W. Stahl End of an Era at Stahl Engineering….Ralph W. Stah, after doing business in Indianapolis as Stahl Engineering for the past 70 years, has moved on. Ralph passed away peacefully in his home this past Saturday, January 30, 2010. He will be sorely missed. Not only in the industrial community where he was well liked and respected but our city as a whole will be the poorer for his passing. In his years with us he has served for 50 years as a director of Indianapolis Boys and Girls clubs. He established the Keenan-Stahl Boys club. He has provided scholarships for club members, established scholarships at Rose-Hulman, Hillsdale College and Illinois Institute of Technology and most recently a grant to IU foundation for post graduate Mathematics students in wife Muriel's name. He was also party to the original founding and continued support of the Ruth Lilly Center for Health and Education. He was part of the founding and continues support for the Milton Friedman Foundation for school choice. He has long been a supporter of Junior Achievement. In 1997 Stahl received the Community Service Award from the Indianapolis Scientific and Engineering Foundation. He has been an active member of American Society for Metals his entire professional life. He was an active member of Rotary and Scientech for more than two decades. For over sixty-five years he has been a faithful member of the Indianapolis Presbyterian congregation; initially 30 years at Irvington and now 35 years at Second Presbyterian. Ralph was predeceased by his wife Muriel and daughters Judythe Ann and Janet Dee. He is survived by sons Kenneth ( Betty ) and Curtis ( Dorene ), eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren. Ralph was born in Chicago in 1913 and educated in the public schools. He received his Bachelors in Mechanical engineering from Amour Institute (Now IIT) and an Honorary P.H.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman. His first position was with the gas company of Chicago and after two years joined friend Art Nielson in establishing A.C. Nielson. It was during his time with Nielson that he was exposed to Lindberg furnaces and would soon establish a lifelong relationship with Lindberg Engineering founding Stahl Engineering in 1939. Seventy years hence Stahl Engineering continues to be one of the most respected firms in heat treating equipment in our region. Carl Weber, Bob Rodewald, Linda and Shannon continue to maintain the Stahl Engineering presence. Ralph and Muriel kept busy with travels throughout the years. Together they made visits to all of the National Parks and visited over 60 countries around the world. For thirty years they shared ownership of Out island property in the Bahamas and were known to coax all willing friends to join them there. Ralph was still spear fishing at 85 years. In later years they enjoyed cruising and visiting family. For his last years Ralph requested that he might spend them in his home with all things familiar at hand. Companionship and care were provided by Curtis and his wife Dorene enabling Ralph to regularly go to the office until this past October. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 4, from 9 AM to Noon with services at 12 Noon at Harry W. Moore Funeral Care, 8151 Allisonville Road. Burial will take place in Berlin Cemetery Berlin, PA, Friday February 5. Please visit the online guestbook at www.harrywmoore.com. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis.