Ralph Bollinger

Ralph Ray Bollinger, 81, of Jackson died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, at Monticello House.

He was born April 18, 1929, in Millersville, son of Henry Joseph and Ethel Hannah Ellis Bollinger. He and Ilanda Shultz were married Aug. 26, 1949, at Sedgewickville, Mo.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s Ralph worked for a dairy company in Pretty Prairie, Kan., and on a wheat farm in Cullison, Kan.

Ralph graduated from Patton High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1950 and received a medical discharge after boot camp.

In 1951 he worked at Wurlitzer Co. in DeKalb, Ill., as a piano stringer. He also worked for Englander Co. making hospital beds in DeKalb. In 1955, he started his own carpenter and building company in DeKalb; in 1971, he moved to Jackson and continued his carpenter business.

He was always gifted in working with his hands, doing plumbing, electrical and auto body work. He also loved gardening and watching things grow. He was always ready to use these gifts to help others.

He gave generously to the Lord's work and was faithful in his church attendance. He had a quiet way about him and the children loved him. His priorities were his God, work and family, and he always wanted to make things right for others.

Ralph was a member of First Baptist Church in Jackson and a former deacon at Caney Fork and Shawnee Hills Baptist churches.

Survivors include his wife, Ilanda of Jackson; two sons, Steve (Kim) Bollinger of Granger, Ind., John (Valerie) Bollinger of Jackson; a grandson, Ross Bollinger of Granger; two brothers, John Mark (Faye) Bollinger of Sedgewickville, Thomas (Marilyn) Bollinger of Marquand, Mo.; two sisters, Gladys Lawrence of Sedgewickville, and Alice (Richard) Walton of Normal, Ill.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Truman, Clyde, Lloyd and Franklin; and a sister, Mary.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Tommy Weems and Mike Parry officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Southeast Hospice or First Baptist Church Library.