Ralph L. Seckel

Ralph Leroy Seckel, age 83, born April 6, 1929, passed away June 1, 2012. He was born to the late Orabell (Nobel) and Robert Seckel and in 1950 he married his high school sweetheart, Martha Cooper, who survives. Together they weathered the hardest time in their married life by burying their first child, Robert William Seckel who died of pneumonia at 10 months of age. He was also preceded in death by four wonderful friends who were also brothers-in-law.

He lived his entire life in the Bucyrus area and graduated Bucyrus High School with the class of 1947. He was in the Naval Reserves following high school while working at the Bucyrus Ice Plant and General Hydraulics before landing his main job at Timken Roller Bearing working as a tool grinder. He worked there for 38 years and retired in 1989. When he and Martha moved to the rural Holmes Liberty area, where they have resided for almost 50 years, Ralph was working the night shift at Timken. He was approached by Wynford's band director, Arvine Kindinger and the bus mechanic about helping out as an elementary bus driver. He enjoyed that job probably more than any and always had many students reminiscing about the fun times with "Ralphie" on bus No. 7. In later years, before losing his sight, he loved the friendship and great lunches together with the crew who drove cars for Mathews Walston. He also drove and delivered meals and groceries to shut-ins when time permitted.

Ralph and Martha have three daughters, Sandy (Phillip) Gerber, Terry Fawley and fiancé Steve Brause, and Sharon (Rex) Ard, all living in the Bucyrus area. They have six grandchildren, Andrea (Michael) Thomas of Bucyrus, Wes (Christine) Gerber of Indiana, Stacey and Lindsay Fawley of Columbus, Amber (Scott) Langenderfer of Bucyrus, and Joshua (Kelly) Ard, also of Bucyrus. They have also been blessed with six (and awaiting a 7th) great grandchildren, Alec and Eric Thomas, Avery, Collin and Hayden Langenderfer and Wyatt Gerber. He also has two sisters, Becky Myers of Marion and Audrey (Zehring) Kirkman of Bucyrus.

Over the years, Ralph enjoyed many activities and hobbies: racing go-karts, playing horse shoes, snowmobiling and swimming. He also spent many hours manicuring yards and polishing his cars.

He is a lifelong member of the Lincoln Ave. Church of Christ where he served as their treasurer for more than 25 years, taught Sunday School and served as the lawn custodian (often assisted by family in that endeavor). He gladly mowed that yard and his wife's aunt, Orpha Herbert's yard for many years. Ralph made several tries at delivering sermons but, he decided that with his shaky voice and wobbly knees, his efforts were better spent elsewhere.

In good health he was almost always funny and kind, always remembering to thank all who assisted him and rarely forgot to say please even as he recovered from a stroke six years ago. In that respect, we knew he would want special people to know how grateful he and family are for the great care provided by Dr. Keith Blair for 38 years. Thanks to dear friends, Jim and Evelyn Scott for their friendship and travel companionship. Many special thanks to sister in law, Helen Dennison for her loving, selfless care of Martha and Ralph during surgery recovery and Ralph's failing health, especially in the past year. The world will be a lonelier place without him, but Heaven has gained another special angel.

His family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 5 at Wise Funeral Service, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday with Minister Russell Howard officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), HomeCare Matters or the Northwestern Ohio Christian Youth Camp through the funeral home.



Visitation:

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 4-8 p.m.

Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Service:

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 11:00 a.m.

Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Cemetery:

Oakwood Cemetery, 835 Kaler Ave., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820