Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Ralph Leonard Gentle

Aug. 13, 1916 - June 4, 1998

 

South Bend Tribune 6/5/1998

ELKHART - Ralph Leonard Gentle, 81, residing on Kentucky Avenue, Elkhart, Ind., passed away at 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, at the St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend, Ind.

Mr. Gentle was employed for 58 years as a supervisor of bottle shops at brewing companies in Cleveland, Ohio, Drewry's of South Bend, and the G. Heilimen Company in Sheboygan and LaCrosse, Wis. He retired from the G. Heilimen Company in May 1978. Mr. Gentle was also the co-owner of The United Consumers Club in Goshen, Ind., until May 1988. He had lived in this area since 1960. Ralph was born on August 13, 1916, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Edward and Isabella (Andrews) Gentle. He was also preceded in death by a son, Edward C. Gentle in 1942; and by a brother, Edward Gentle in 1986.

 

On April 23, 1938, in Cleveland, he married Margaret V. Schetler, who survives. He is also survived by a daughter, Virginia C. (James) Wery of Osceola, Ind.; a son, Ralph D. (Bonnie) Gentle of Goshen; five grandchildren, Gerald A. (Lisa) Gentle of Moontownship, Pa., Jeffrey J. (Nancy) Wery of Granger, Ind., Brian W. (Shari) Wery of Wilson, Mich., Donna L. (Mark) Griffen of Eaton, Ohio, and Donald L. Gentle of North Carolina; and by ten great-grandchildren, Tara Wery, Cassandra Wery, Andy Wery, Shane Wery, Andy Gentle, Sean Gentle, Gabrella Griffen, Jamie Cashen, Nick Cashen and Adam Cashen.

 

Mr. Gentle was a United States Navy veteran of World War II, a member of the Masonic Lodge F & AM in Cleveland, and attended the Osceola United Methodist Church.

 

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, at the Palmer Funeral Home, 1109 Lincolnway West, Osceola. Rev. Brian L. Beeks, pastor of the church, will officiate. Entombment will follow in Riverview Cemetery, South Bend. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the Palmer Funeral Home in Osceola. Contributions may be made to the church in Ralph's memory.