WALDOBORO – Harold C. Ralph Sr., 93, passed away Monday, Sept. 26, 2005, at his home. Mr. Ralph was born Jan. 5, 1912, in Orff’s Corner, Waldoboro, the son of Ward M. Ralph Sr. and Marjorie Brown Ralph. He left school at an early age to go to work in a grocery store in Winslows Mills to help support the family. In 1929, he worked for W. G. Griffin Garage in Lynn, Mass. He returned to Waldoboro and worked for Roland A. Genthner delivering oil and later at the Waldoboro Garage Company. In 1937, with help from Rhama Philbrook, he opened what is now Corner Exxon. He also started selling used cars and opened a Hudson dealership at this location in 1940. He became a sub-dealer for International Truck and Pontiac Cars. In 1945, he purchased a building on Main Street and opened a Dodge and Plymouth dealership and later moved it to its Route 1 location that houses the Chevrolet dealership that bears his name today. In 1941, he purchased a pacing mare, Royal Lady, II, from Walter Coombs and began a long career of not only owning race horses but also training and driving his own horses. His best horse over the years was Joe Rhap. He drove until the age of 73 and sold his last horse in Aug. 2005. He bought and sold between 4000 and 5000 horses, many through the Pine Tree Sales Company that he owned in partnership with Clayton Smith. In 1965, the New England Harness Writers Association honored him with the Distinguished Service Award. He twice has been honored by the Maine Harness Horseman Association with their Distinguished Service Award. He was presented the N.E. Harness Writers President’s Award in 2000. He was a lifetime member of King Solomon’s Lodge No. 61, United States Trotting Association and Maine Harness Horseman’s Association. He was instrumental in building what is now the Sylvania plant and the former Waldoboro Locker. He also helped start Little League in Waldoboro. He was predeceased by his wife, Maude Ralph on March 4, 2005; brothers, Willis and Ward Ralph; sons-in-law, Maynard Eugley and Richard Crabtree. Survivors include his sons, Ronald E. Ralph and his wife, Claire, of Waldoboro, Harold C. Ralph Jr. and his companion, Alice Turner, of Waldoboro; daughters, Greta Crabtree and her companion, David Sidelinger, of Waldoboro, Helen Eugley of Waldoboro; five grandchildren, Rhonda Conway and her husband, Rody, of Waldoboro, R. Stephen Ralph and his wife, Kelly, of Union, Denise Gould and her husband, George, of Waldoboro, Harolyn York and her companion, Jeffrey Evangelos, of Friendship, Lori Wills of Largo, Fla.; 10 great-grandchildren; and 10 great- great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of Harold’s life will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at the Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro with the Rev. Robert Dorr officiating. Burial will follow in Orffs Corner Cemetery, Waldoboro. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mr. Ralph’s memory to Kno-Wal-Lin Hospice, care of Northeast Health, 22 White St., Rockland, ME 04841. Arrangements are under entrusted to the Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Waldoboro.
HAROLD C. RALPH SR.
