Ralph Larson

Ralph Harold Larson, 88, passed away at 2:57 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He had a deep and abiding faith. A week before he died he told his family, "I am dying, and it is beautiful and I am happy and ready to go home to my Father in heaven." As he passed, his grieving family was consoled that he was seeing glimpses of his future home.

He was born Dec. 30, 1921, in Akron, Ohio, to Nels August and Bertha Svensdotter Larson. Ralph and Regina Johnson were married March 20, 1948, on a beautiful spring day. They were longtime residents of Akron. He and his beloved wife were also residents of Vero Beach, Fla., for several years after retirement. They have lived in Cape Girardeau for more than 10 years.

Ralph was an outstanding athlete throughout his life in many sports, including football, basketball, ice skating, bowling, swimming and golf. He was the quarterback of Akron South High School's football team during his freshman through senior years. He and two of his brothers, Bob and Gordon, also were named to the All City Basketball team in the same year.

Ralph served our country in the Coast Guard during World War II. He was assigned to work in the Guard's Third District Headquarters on Manhattan Island and later at Ellis Island. While at Ellis Island he was selected to play basketball for the Guard's team during his off-duty hours. Ralph was involved with protecting our home shores from spies and submarines when they were too close to our borders. During the time he spent in the service he fell in love with New York City, and after the war he and Regina met at a dance, courted and married in Akron, and then honeymooned in New York City.

Also after the war he attended Bowling Green State University where he played on the football team. After a football injury, he attended Kent State University from 1947 through 1953, earning a B.S. degree in secondary education with an emphasis in social studies, a master's degree in secondary education administration and a high school counselor's certificate.

Ralph was an outstanding educator, coach and counselor in the Akron public schools and other area high schools for many years. His students and student athletes honored him at times by dedicating beautiful songs to him and his family on a local radio station. One of those was when his first child was born. The song was "Jeanine I Dream of Lilac Time."

He worked for a short time at the Akron Beacon Journal in an administrative role. But his passion as an educator called him, and in the 1960s he became a university administrator at the University of Akron. He retired in 1976. After his first short-lived retirement he became an administrator for Kent State University. After retiring from Kent State he worked with Regina, a very successful realtor, and they were a wonderful team at that work.

Ralph's priorities in life were faith and love of God and others, devotion to his wife, Regina, and their two children, Jeanine and Mark. He valued his friends and his work -- whether it was as an educator or in his early working years as a house painter during some summers with three of his teaching buddies who also had master's degrees in education, thus calling their painting business "The Four Masters."

Ralph had a great sense of humor and knew how to have fun with family and friends. He and Regina loved to travel with their children and then in later years as a couple and with friends and family. He loved the beauty of nature, which he saw as just one of God's great gifts to all.

He was a natural born leader who had a strong work ethic, a loving and thankful heart, humility, wisdom and strength beyond measure, and high moral and ethical standards. This was a man who walked God's walk and knew that when we stumble, God in his goodness, mercy and grace forgives.

He made so many positive differences in the world. For just one example, in the late 1950s, when one of his friends and colleagues was viciously attacked by a trespasser with a weapon in a high school, Ralph and another friend rushed to his defense, putting their own lives at risk. Because of this bravery and heroism, their colleague's life was saved and the criminal went to prison.

Ralph's son, Mark, has said, "If Dad doesn't get into heaven, nobody will."

The ninth of 10 children, Ralph is survived by his loving wife, Regina Johnson Larson; children and spouses Jeanine Larson Dobbins and Kenneth W. Dobbins of Cape Girardeau and Mark Gordon Larson and Karen Larson of Castle Rock, Colo. Surviving grandchildren include Paul Larson Dobbins (Stacey), Mark Gordon Larson Jr., Cecilia Marie Hendrix (Zach) and Catherine Regina Larson.

He also has nine great-grandchildren. They are Lincoln Kenneth Dobbins, Briana Larson, Jameson and Dominic Hendrix, Elijah and Isabella Larson, and Alyssa, Xavier and Isaiah Larson.

Ralph and Regina Larson were married and raised their children in St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Akron. Jeanine, Ken, Mark and Karen have honored Ralph and Regina with a gift to the Washington National Cathedral.

Ralph loved his Redhawks. One of his last outings was with Jeanine and Ken to a Redhawks basketball game.

At Ralph's request a family-only memorial service will be held. The service will be led by Dr. Bob Herring, pastor of Illmo Baptist Church, friend of the family and a highly respected university colleague.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ralph H. Larson Memorial Fund at Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, One University Plaza, Mail Stop 7300, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.