Ralph J. Hempstead

Ralph James Hempstead, 63 STRUTHERS âa�" Ralph James Hempstead, 63, died Saturday, June 21, 2008 at home with his family. Mr. Hempstead was born Saturday, July 1, 1944, in Youngstown, a son of John E. and Irene Veres Hempstead. He was a 1963 graduate of Struthers High School. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in the Dominican Republic as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, and worked in the construction maintenance department for East Ohio Gas Company, retiring in 1999, after 30 years of dedicated service. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, the former Karen L. Heitzenrater, whom he married May 27, 1978; one daughter, Ashlie Hempstead-White, and her husband, Sam of Portland, Ore.; one son, Christopher Hempstead, also of Portland; a daughter, Stacie Tamburro and two sons, Donny and Phillip Tamburro, all of Texas; two brothers, Frank âa�A"Josephâa�A� Hempstead of Struthers and Charles Hempstead, and his wife, Norma of Poland Township; and one sister, Irene âa�A"Sissyâa�A� Orf, and her husband, George of Struthers. âa�A"Ralph will be missed dearly for his humor, compassion, generosity, and loyalty. He slipped away humbly to ride his big bike in the sky and the grace of his character will shine on us forever.âa�A� Friends will be received 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, June 23, at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home in Struthers, where funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Friends and family may visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.

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