Ralph Dahl

Ralph Loyd Dahl was born on September 22, 1933 and died on November 24, 2025. Visitation will be at First Baptist Church in Clifton at 1:00 pm in the Family Life Center. The funeral service celebrating Ralph’s life will be immediately after visitation in the First Baptist Church sanctuary at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Clifton.

Ralph was born in Clifton, Texas to Einar Dahl and Bessie Mae Seymour. Einar was a Norwegian immigrant who retired from the Santa Fe Railroad in the Clifton area. Ralph was extremely proud of his Norwegian heritage. Einar and Bessie had seven children: Norma Jean Miller, Elda Merle Eggen, Kennard Dahl, Elvis Dahl, Patsy Cranfill, and Mary Dahl. Ralph’s parents and siblings preceded him in death.

Ralph graduated from Clifton High School and attended Clifton College on a full athletic scholarship for football and basketball and earned an associate’s degree. He served in the local unit of the Army National Guard from 1951-1960, serving in the 143rd Heavy Mortar Infantry Company and was a Staff Sergeant E6 rank. He was married from 1953-1983 to Eudoris Rhone (deceased), who was from Cranfills Gap.

He received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in education from The University of North Texas at Denton. Ralph’s career included teaching, coaching basketball (mostly), football, and being a principal. Ralph worked for Region 10 Educational Service Center in Richardson, Texas for 20 years. After retiring from the Service Center, he worked as an adjunct and full-time professor for East Texas Baptist University. He taught Earth Science, Geology, education courses, and supervised student teachers. Ralph was known as “Mr. Dr. Dahl” at ETBU and Shirley was “Mrs. Dr. Dahl”. Ralph retired from ETBU in 1996, and fulfilled his dream of teaching at the college level.

Ralph and Shirley married in 1983 at Scarborough Chapel on the East Texas Baptist University campus in Marshall, Texas. Ralph and Shirley’s children include son, Steve Dahl (deceased), and wife Suzanne; son, Jon Dahl and wife Mary; daughter, Diane Leggett, and husband Jerry; step-son, Chandler Fulton, and wife Marai; and step-daughter, Stephane Peterson and husband Tom. Grandchildren include Chris Dahl and wife Amanda, Evan Dahl and wife Blair, Nicholas Dahl, Kelsey Kenig and husband Kornel, Haley Wilkie and husband Matt, Jacob Leggett, Jordan Leggett, Marla Ready, Kayla Ready, Nathan Fulton, Ethan Fulton, and Abigail (Abby) Fulton. Great-grandchildren are Lily Dahl and Mia Kenig.

Ralph and Shirley retired to Clifton in 2006 and made First Baptist Church of Clifton their church home. Ralph and his brother, Kennard, were the best of friends during this time and enjoyed hunting, fishing, singing, playing guitars, country western music, playing dominoes, and visiting with family, which he loved dearly. He loved to read western stories and mysteries, work crossword and word puzzles, complete jigsaw puzzles, tell jokes and stories, stay physically fit, and travel with Shirley. He loved it when family would come to visit, and he was so very proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.