Ralph Thomas Whitworth Sr., age 84, died Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at Heartland Health Care in Three Rivers. He was born in Jeffersontown, KY October 16, 1927, to Delmar and Elizabeth (Black) Whitworth. On December 4, 1948 Ralph married Mary Lucille Eldridge in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. She preceded him in death April 4, 2009. Ralph served in the US Army from September 1950 to until October 1951 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he received training as a cook and was discharged with an Honorable Discharge. He worked for a dairy farm and landscaping company while living in Kentucky. Moving to Elkhart in 1960 he worked at Banner Trailer Factory and Coachmen RV in Middlebury. In 1968 they moved to Constantine and later to Three Rivers where he retired from North American Products.
Surviving are his daughters Bessie Priddy, Constantine, Vivian (Don) Hendrick, Centreville, sons Dwight “Doug” (Peggy) Whitworth, Goshen, Theodore “Ted” (Elizabeth) Whitworth, Sturgis, Jeffrey (Tina) Whitworth, Three Rivers, grandchildren James (Ginger) Priddy Jr., Bristol, Herman Priddy, Constantine, Carmita (Mike) Hunter, Centreville, Jason (Nicole) Hendrick, Matttawan, Amy Whetstone, Goshen, Matthew Whetstone, Topeka, Scott Whitworth, Sturgis, Mary Whitworth, Sturgis, Jessica Whitworth, Middlebury, Miah Whitworth, Three Rivers, 12 great grandchildren, sister Brenda Barnett, Middlebury, brothers Jesse, Arizona, Delmar Jr. Kentucky, and Kenneth of Constantine. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, son, Ralph Whitworth Jr., daughter Sandra (Sandi) Whetstone, sister Edna Waldridge, son-in-law, James Priddy Sr., daughter in law Elizabeth Whitworth and granddaughter Nicole Black.
Relatives and friends will be received Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Eley Funeral Home in Centreville, where Religious Services will be held at 11 am Wednesday with Reverend Gary Carr officiating. Interment will be at the Mottville Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice. On line messages may be left for the family at www.eleyfuneralhomes.com.