2.11.18- A tribute to my father in law, Ralph Self
2.11.18
If Ralph Self had lived till his birthday this year he would be 94. I found this tribute to him today.
Ralph Self
1924-2011
Those dates will be on the marker.
As has been said before, the important part is not the date, but the dash
between.
Ralph was a good steward of
resources. He grew up in the cotton fields of Red River bottom land. His dad
was an immaculate farmer. He managed to raise a family as a share cropper and
had money to buy a new 1929 Chevrolet. From this example, Ralph learned to be a
hard worker and expected to succeed. From the farm days to his retirement from
Arco in 1982 at the age of 57, his work was near the top of his list of
important matters. He was called the “heel man” at work because as a manager of
men, he was always at their heels.
In his adult life he had two things
that were more important than work. His God and His family.
When Sheila started to ask questions
about God, his view was that nothing was more important to her knowledge of God
than his example. He began to study and became a member of the church of
Christ. He was a Bible man. He didn’t want man’s answers to things. He wanted
God’s answers. Because of his integrity and quiet wisdom, he was often sought
out as a resource for counsel.
I have known Ralph for 45 years. I
have been in close proximity for weeks at a time. I have seen him in the most
difficult of situations including intense suffering and death. I never heard
him say a curse word or a slang word. That is what I would call being careful
about words. Paul once wrote that we should “take every thought captive”.
He was completely loyal to his wife,
Gladys, for 64 years of romance and marriage. They were the ultimate
sweethearts. He took care of her for several years after she had dementia. He
was with her to the end. He raised two kids to be independent and able to make
it on their own. Both Stan and Sheila have been very successful in school and
work due to the example of his work ethic. They loved their dad dearly. He had
totally invested in them and they also invested in taking care of him. Stan did
a great job of caring for him for three years after his mom’s death. In March
Ralph was moved to Aurora. We are thankful that this move included many of you
getting to know him and he found out why we have loved being in the SE family.
Ralph was not a perfect man and he
never claimed to be. He would always make it clear that his life was not what
he thought it should be. He was constantly asking God for forgiveness in his
prayers.
He made his final move on Sunday,
October 23, 2011, at 4:30 AM through God’s mercy and grace.
His house that Jesus had been
building was finished and Jesus took him home as promised. We rejoice in
Ralph’s victory.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were
not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with
me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3)
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