Ralph W. Dobson

Ralph W. Dobson, passed away peacefully with family by his side, leaving behind a legacy of love, generosity, and humor. Born on March 19,1932, in Montrose, Iowa he was one of five children of Ralph Sr. and Marie Dobson. Ralph lived a life marked by dedication to family, hard work and golf. He graduated from Montrose High School and went on to serve in United States Navy with honor during the Korean War. After his military service, he went to college and graduated from Iowa Wesleyan in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Ralph began his corporate career with Standard Oil, then NuStar, and finally Starcraft where he demonstrated his strong work ethic and ability to connect with others. He then went out on his own and bought an EK Williams franchise specializing in bookkeeping for the gasoline service station industry which he knew all too well. His passion was gasoline and with the encouragement of family B&R Oil Company started in May of 1978. His leadership took a small Phillips 66 distributor doing less than 130,000 gallons in its first year to the largest branded distributor in the Country for the last eight years before selling the family business in Sept 2002. Work aside, family was the cornerstone of Ralph's life. He was a loving husband to his wife, Barbara Dobson, for nearly 60 years until her passing. Together, they raised their sons Michael (Lisa) and Mark (Tina). Ralph's second love Rita also preceded him in death after 7 years of marriage. Perhaps Ralph's most cherished role was Grandpa to Jay (Emily), Jack, Mitchell (Ashley), and Shelby Whiteleather (Ryan), and then a great-grandfather to Meryl Jean, Oaklee, Harper, and Burke. His sister, Connie Putthoff, also survives him, and together they shared a lifetime of memories. Ralph is also survived by many very special nephews and nieces. Brothers Joe and Raymond and sister Deloris proceeded him in death. Ralph is also survived by Rita's daughters Kelly (Bill) Cousineau, Dawn (Rick) Cook and Tracey Coy and special caregiver Doris Stewart. An enthusiastic golfer, Ralph could often be found on his favorite course, Morris Park where he would play with the "Nooners", family or himself. His passion for the game was evident in his achievement of scoring four hole-in-ones. He continued to play every day weather permitting, right up until he was 90, a testament to his vitality and love for the game. Those who knew Ralph will remember him as a man who brought laughter and warmth into their lives. He was funny, generous, and loving, always ready to share a joke or offer a kind word. His presence was a gift to all who had the privilege of knowing him, and his absence will leave an incredible void. Ralph's life was a journey of joy, service, and unwavering commitment to his loved ones. As we bid farewell to this remarkable man, we take comfort in knowing that his legacy will endure through the countless lives he touched with his humor, kindness, and deep affection. Ralph W. Dobson will be remembered not just for the life he lived, but for the love he gave so freely and the happiness he brought to so many. A visitation for Ralph will be held on Monday, October 27, 2025 at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr. South Bend, IN from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Ralph will be laid to rest in Montrose, Iowa. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Hubbard Hill Retirement Community at hubbardhill.org or the Upper Room Recovery Community at upperroomrecovery.org