Ralph Boles

8/14/1942 - 11/4/2024

Salem - Ralph Boles of Salem, passed away Nov. 4, at the age of 83. He was raised in Pittsburgh, Pa., but lived all across the country and the world during his U.S. Naval deployments. He served over 20 valiant years in the U.S. Navy as a submariner in the electrical trade moving on to ultimately retire at Electric Boat.

Prior to his passing he was respected as the VFW commander Post 2774. He loved being out in the country, which brought him to settle in the town of Salem, with his wife Virginia and two daughters, Christine and Tammy.

His grandchildren all spent time with him in Salem. Ralph made special efforts to put everyone above himself and has filled many hearts with lifelong memories. Over the 45 yrs in Salem, Ralph, truly salt of the earth, became a master gardener and contributed time and efforts locally. He enjoyed nature, putting hours into his bee farm and was noted as a past president of the Beekeepers Association of Eastern CT. He also dedicated time as a volunteer at the local Gardner Lake Firehouse and enjoyed his peers' company there.

A cancer and heart surgery survivor, Ralph was known for being incredibly resilient. He spent the last year and a half of his life dedicated to taking care of Virginia after she suffered a series of strokes, until it came time for him to enter hospice care and ultimately succumbing to heart failure. He was comforted with words of appreciation from his family members and side by side with his wife as he passed. We were assured of his life well lived.

Ralph leaves behind his cherished wife of 64 yrs, Virginia; his daughters, Tammy Senkewitcz, Waterford, and Christine Tagg, Mt. Morris, Mich.; and his grandchildren: Ben, Sam, Mikayla and Thalia. He is also survived by his brother Theodore Boles; and many cousins, nieces and nephews based within Pittsburgh, Pa.

Private services will be held at an undetermined date.