Mrs. Esther R. Ralph

Esther R. Ralph, 93, of West Chester, formerly of Exton, died on Oct. 21, 2011. She was born on July 29, 1918, in West Chester to the late John P. and Bessie Norney Richardson. She was the wife of the late Gordon Maurice Ralph Sr. from Folkstone, England. Raised in Malvern, Esther was a 1936 graduate of Tredyffrin-Easttown High School and a graduate of West Chester Teachers College and Drexel University. She worked at her father's Infant Knitting Wear Corp. factory in Malvern and Berwyn. Around 1942 she took a job as associate librarian at Haverford College until her retirement in 1984. She was a member of the Bible Baptist Church of West Chester, where she was active with the Senior Saints and Women's Fellowship Committee. She enjoyed cooking for her family, entertaining her friends from the College Library and working in her many flower gardens in her Marchwood home. She is survived by two sons, Gordon M. Ralph Jr. (Robin) of Suwanee, Ga., and David L. Ralph (Dominique) of Downingtown; a daughter, Linda Esther Arner (Richard) of West Chester; and seven grandchildren: Gordon III, Lindsey, Justin, Sarah, Caroline, Patrick and Christopher. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Esther's life celebration from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Mauger-Givnish of Malvern, 24 Monument Ave., followed by her memorial service at 11 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Heart Association , 1617 JFK Blvd., Suite 700, Philadelphia, PA19103. To share your fondest memory of Esther, please visit www.lifecelebration.com.