Ralph Lemoine Branstetter, Sr., son of Virgil and Eula Branstetter, was born October 8, 1934, in Mansfield, Missouri, the oldest of six (five brothers and one sister).
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Eula Branstetter; his first wife, Verna Marie Barber Branstetter; his sons, Ralph Lemoine Branstetter, Jr. “Butch” and Doyle Dee Branstetter; grandson, Mark Branstetter; brothers, Don Branstetter and Gary Branstetter; sisters-in-law, Norma Ruth Branstetter and Rachel Branstetter.
Ralph grew up in southern Missouri with his siblings, where he enjoyed the outdoors and boxing in high school. He missed the draft in 1953, due to recently graduating high school, followed by marrying his first love, Verna Marie Barber on July 26, 1953, in Mansfield. The newlyweds moved to St. Louis as Ralph worked for McDonald Douglas Aircraft until the end of the war in 1954, before moving to 118 Georgia Lane in Belton, Missouri, where they welcomed their firstborn, Ralph Lemoine, Jr. “Butch” followed by their second son, Richard Paul in 1956. Six years later they had a surprise welcoming of twin boys, Doyle Dee and David Lee, completing their family a year later with their daughter, Tonya Jo.
Around 1970, the family moved to 221 NW 83rd Street in Kansas City North where they started attending Gashland Baptist Church, where Ralph was ordained as a church deacon. Ralph held managerial positions during this time with one of his final jobs being at Larry Goad Co. One of his highlights was coaching his son’s little league teams and going on family camping trips. In 1984, the lovely V Marie passed away. As time went on Ralph met Ms. Edie Aida Ridgway, at church, and he won her heart with a rose. They were joined in marriage in 1985. In the winter of 1987, Ralph and Aida moved to Batesville, Arkansas where Ralph began working with his brother, Dwight, at Batesville Grocery CO. In January 1988 they joined First Baptist Church where he fulfilled his deacon duties, and became popular with his coffee service.
In 1996, he retired, so Aida and Ralph began traveling the states through bus tours, visiting Cancun, and exploring new places, before he decided to go back to work part-time as a car wash attendant, delivering meals on wheels, and delivering pharmaceuticals, before he found great enjoyment volunteering as a courtesy cart driver at the White River Medical Center. Over the years Ralph had many hobbies and was quite the handyman with gardening and woodworking being some of his most enjoyed activities, while he excelled at almost anything he put his hands to.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Aida Ridgway Branstetter; his sons, Richard Paul Branstetter and wife, Tina and David Branstetter; his daughter, Tonya Jo Branstetter; his daughter-in-law, Velvet Branstetter; his grandchildren, Butch Branstetter, Angel McKinney, Chanze Branstetter, Holly (Nathan) Andachter, Chris (Alicia) Branstetter, Mike Branstetter, Reisa (Lee) Studdle, Yve Calai (Daniel) Ballard, Jobea Branstetter, Samiya Haidar, Zadlyn Branstetter, and Kaiyu Hoffman; and many great-and great-great grandchildren along with siblings, in-laws and many friends and family.
Memorial services will begin at 11:00 am Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at First Baptist Church with the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home with Stacy Reed officiating.
A Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 am Tuesday just before service at the church.
In place of flowers, the family would like gifts donated towards the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 610 E. Main Street, Batesville, AR 72501 or Gideon International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800.
