Ralph Ferraro

With his loving family by his side, Ralph N. Ferraro, age 78, passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2010, at his residence.  Ralph was born in Racine, December 2, 1931, son of the late Joseph E. and Carmela (Nee:  Schifano) Ferraro.

Ralph was a graduate of William Horlick High School “Class of 1950.”  A superb athlete, he received a total of nine varsity letters in basketball, football and golf.  He was a member of the Wisconsin State Champion Golf Team.  Following graduation he proudly served in the United States Navy.

On April 24, 1954, in Dyersburg, TN, he was united in marriage to Helen F. Ladd.  Working diligently to put himself through college he was employed as a police officer for three years.  Furthering his education he obtained his Master's Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  In 1990 Ralph retired from the Racine Unified School District after twenty-six years of service.  He was a teacher and sub-school Principal at William Horlick High School. Following retirement he and his wife moved to Arizona until 2003 when they returned to Racine.

Ralph was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, a member of Roma Lodge, and was an active member of the Lions Club where he served a term as President.  He will be remembered fondly for his outstanding cooking, mastery of the grill, love for golf and sports, especially the Packers and his passion for traveling.   Above all he will be best remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed.

Survivors include his loving wife, Helen;  his children, Rose (Terry) Meyers of Racine, Barbara (Jim) Edwards of Round Rock, TX, Michael Ferraro of Phoenix, AZ; his six grandchildren, Nick, Katie, and Andrew Meyers, David, Matthew, and Benjamin Edwards; brothers, Louis (Patricia) Ferraro, Tony(Jeanne) Ferraro, all of Racine; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Charles Ladd, Betty Culver, Joann Ladd, all of Newbern, TN, Louise (Charles) Miller of Union City, TN; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.   In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Frank (Mary) Ferraro.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, April 26, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 6400 Spring St., with Rev. William J. Dietzler officiating.  Interment with full military honors will follow at the Southern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Town of Dover.  Relatives and friends may meet with the family Sunday at the funeral home from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Monday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of Mass at 10:30 a.m.  Memorials to The Wisconsin Parkinson Foundation, 445 N. 12th Street, Suite 4602, Milwaukee, WI  53233 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 have been suggested.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Hospice Alliance for their loving and compassionate care.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine   (262) 634-7888