Ralph N. Flanders

EAST MONTPELIER - Ralph Norris Flanders, 91, of East Montpelier, died on April 6, 2010, at Rowan Court, after an extended illness. Born on February 23, 1919, in Rochester, N.Y., Ralph grew up in Springfield, Vt., and was the son of engineer and designer Ernest V. Flanders and nephew of Senator Ralph E. Flanders.

Predeceased by his beloved wife, Anne C. Flanders, with whom he fathered nine children, he is survived by Jonathan E. Flanders and wife Nancy and their children Rhys and Darrel of Troy, N.Y., Mark G. Flanders and partner Roger Loeb of Detroit, Mich., Naomi A. Flanders and daughter Esther Nemethy of East Montpelier, Deborah C. Flanders and fiancé Timothy Foley of Burlington, Elizabeth H.F. Bissell and her husband Richard Bissell and their children Isaac and Mary Clare of Putney, Eunice M. Flanders and daughter Brittany A. Wells of Ashland, Mass., Lois E. Flanders of East Montpelier, James W. Flanders of Plainfield, N.J., as well as grandson Neil T.S. Flanders of East Montpelier, son of second-born and predeceased son, Timothy E. Flanders.

Ralph studied sociology, philosophy and engineering at Middlebury College, then served during WWII in the 10th Mountaineering Division 85th Regiment in Italy. Upon his return on March 2, 1946, he married Anne Christine Lawson of Dundee, N.Y. He finished his course work at the University of Vermont. Ralph studied math and physics and wrote his philosophy thesis titled "Martin Buber's Conception of the Religious" while at Boston University where he received a Master of Arts degree in 1966. Ralph briefly taught physics and math at Chelsea High School and then at Vermont Technical College. Ralph edited and wrote for "The Vanguard," a small nonprofit advocacy publication where he served on the board of directors. Ralph received an award for his advocacy and work collecting all laws related to the handicapped, abstracting and indexing them.

Upon his death, Ralph, a devoted Christian and religious seeker, was a member of St. Augustine's in Montpelier, Vt. A passionate lover of God and the Church, Ralph passed on to his children his appreciation for music, art, literature, hiking, gardening, swimming and involvement with community.

Funeral arrangement handled by Barber & Lanier's at 139 Main St., Montpelier, Vt. Wake hours are 5 p.m. followed by a funeral at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 11. The burial is at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 12, in Plain-Mont Cemetery in Plainfield, Vt.

View the guest book at www.rutlandherald.com/ obits.