Ralph Lee Spear

Ralph Lee Spear, 84, passed peacefully into eternity on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at his home in Charlestown, Indiana, surrounded by his loving family. Born on September 19, 1939, in Charlestown to the late Marshall and Irma (Huffman) Spear, Ralph lived a life full of dedication to his family, community, and country.
Ralph proudly served his nation as a member of the United States Army, embodying a spirit of duty and discipline that he carried throughout his life. After his military service, Ralph pursued a career as an electrician and became the proud owner of Spear Electric, a business he ran with care and integrity until his well-deserved retirement. Ralph honorably passed the business to his daughter Jill. The business now operates as Jill Spear Electric Inc.
A man of deep faith and community involvement, Ralph was a longtime member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Charlestown. He played a key role in expanding the church, overseeing the construction of a major addition that will serve generations to come. His leadership extended beyond the church walls, as he also served as Governor of Lodge 1757 of the Loyal Order of Moose, where he managed the construction of a new building for the lodge-a testament to his dedication and vision for community growth.
Ralph's contributions to the Charlestown and Sellersburg areas were far-reaching. For many years, he was a vital part of the Sellersburg Celebrates Festival, where he volunteered his electrical expertise, ensuring that the festival's many events could be enjoyed by all. His quiet work behind the scenes made a lasting impact on the festival's success and the joy it brought to countless families.
In addition to his professional and civic work, Ralph was the proud owner of a hunting preserve in Kentucky, which he operated for 10 years. It was a passion project that allowed him to share his love of the outdoors with others. Ralph was preceded in death by his three brothers, Bill, John and Steve Spear.
Survivors include his loving wife of 49 years, Anita Kay Spear of Charlestown, his son, Brent Spear (Melissa), his daughters, Cathy Braun (Carl) of Charlestown, Tami McRae (Steve) of Memphis, Jill Tuttle (David) of Sellersburg, Julie Rawlings (Tim) of Charlestown, grandchildren, Brittany Spainhour, Chelsea Ison, Brooke Sawyer, Chris Braun, Emily Spear, Hunter Spear, Hannah Allen, Megan Rawlings, Alyssa Rawlings, Katie, Rawlings, his children from his first marriage, Mark Spear (Tammy) of Memphis, Tracie Handy of Memphis, Janis Coffman (Bob) of New Albany and their children, Adam Spear, Michael Spear, Nick Riggle,
Amber Riggle, Rhen Handy,Shayne Handy, Bailey Smith and Cameryn Coffman. Ralph also leaves his 13 great- grandchildren to cherish his memory, Brynlee, Hadley, Myles, Carson, Madelyn, Oliver, Landon, Maddie, Paxton, Becket, Lincoln, Lawson and Mariah.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Garr Funeral Home (7806 Highway 311, Sellersburg, Indiana 47172) with interment to follow at Charlestown Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and on Saturday from 9:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
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