Ralph M. Whitaker

Ralph M. Whitaker, 65, of Rocky Ridge, OH died August 20, 2014 surrounded by his family and close friends after fighting a heroic battle with Berylliosis diagnosed in 1994. He was born Sept. 13, 1948 in Port Clinton, OH the son of the late Maxwell "Mack" and Jeannette (Saddoris) Whitaker. Ralph married Mary Jane Kania on Dec. 4, 1970 and she survives. Ralph was a graduate of Oak Harbor High School in 1966 and he completed his machinist apprentice program from Terra College in 1972. He worked as a machinist at Brush Wellman (Materion) for 37 years. He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, Oak Harbor, the Elks Club in Nelsonville, OH and the Eagles in Fremont, OH. He served on the Rocky Ridge Village Council for several years. He enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, hunting, shooting pool and playing golf. He was a dedicated Ohio State Football fan through good times and bad. Ralph coached Graytown Little League Baseball and Oak Harbor Girls High School Softball teams. He was a man of strong convictions; and if you were lucky enough to be his friend, it was for a lifetime. He shared his love of food by cooking many a meal for family and friends and one of his true enjoyments in life for many years was cooking open pit barbecue chicken with his friends. He will be truly missed at the morning meetings with his friends who all helped solve the world's problems together.or at least talked about it. DTRRO forever. Surviving are his wife: Mary Jane Whitaker; children: Shelley Whitaker of Long Beach, CA, Christy Whitaker of Oak Harbor, Mark Whitaker of Springboro, OH; grandsons: Andrew Whitaker, US Navy of Groton, CT and Jack Gleckler of Oak Harbor, OH; sisters: Annette (Orris) Wilburn and Lynn (Randy) Matthews both of Rocky Ridge, OH and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents: Hazel and Ralph Saddoris and Steven and Flora Whitaker; father-in-law: Walter Kania; step-father: Neal Barnes. Ralph's request was that his family and friends hold back the tears and join in a celebration of his life by attending a service 2:00 pm Sunday, August 24, 2014 at St. Boniface Catholic Church 215 N. Church St., Oak Harbor, OH with burial to follow at Salem Township Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor, OH. A dinner gathering will follow the burial at Community Markets VFW Hall in Oak Harbor, OH. Visitation will be held Saturday from 2:00 8:00 pm at Crosser Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 301 N. Locust St. Oak Harbor, OH. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Boniface Church School Support Group. On line condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserfuneralhome.com . The family would like to express a special thanks to the doctors and staff at the Bay Park Hospital Intensive Care Unit, Caregivers: Rhonda and Brittany of Professional Case Management for their loving care given to Ralph, and Fred and Judy Jensen for their love and support to Ralph and the entire family. Funeral Home: Crosser Funeral Home & Cremation Service - Oak Harbor Chapel 301 N. Locust Street Oak Harbor, OH US 43449