Ralph Limbaugh
Published 12:00 am Monday, January 12, 2009
Ralph Lee Limbaugh, 77, of Chelsea, passed from this life on January 11, 2009 after a brave battle with cancer.
Mr. Limbaugh was born in Bon Air, Ala. and left high school early to join the Army, where he played the bugle, trained as a paratrooper, and fought in the Korean War. After an honorable discharge, he came to Birmingham where he met the love of his life at a downtown skating rink. Ralph and Elene (Stansell) were married six months later, and after several years of city life, bought a home and 19 acres of land on the Florida Short Route. Mr. Limbaugh had a beautiful voice and “led the singing” at Mt. Signal Baptist Church for many years. He was a member of the Chelsea Masonic Lodge and served as Worshipful Master from 2000 to 2001.
An avid outdoorsman who loved camping, gardening, and hunting, he especially enjoyed fishing. One of his many hobbies, shoeing horses, evolved into a part-time business. His customers also enjoyed the decorative items he designed and crafted from used horseshoes and other metals. What Mr. Limbaugh lacked in formal education, he made up for with his never-ending love of learning and traveling. He enjoyed sharing what he learned with others, and he loved to make people laugh.
Mr. Limbaugh was more than a strong, intelligent, talented, hard-working, patriotic and Christian man. He was a proud and devoted family man and he died knowing he was loved. Ralph “never met a stranger” during his time on Earth, and surely will not meet any in his new home with God.
Mr. Limbaugh was preceded in death by his parents, Charles R. and Beulah (Dyson) Limbaugh, and his brother, Charles R. Limbaugh. He is survived by his wife, Elene Limbaugh of Chelsea; his daughter, Kathy Limbaugh of Birmingham; his son, Al Limbaugh and his wife Stephanie, of Chelsea; his daughter, Kristi Sanderson and husband Greg, of Chelsea; his grandsons Stephen Limbaugh of Chelsea, Cody Limbaugh Smith of Birmingham, and Thomas Limbaugh of Chelsea; his sister, Kay Mayo of Fairfax, VA; and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.
The service will be held at Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea on January 14, 2009, at 12 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please send any memorials to Liberty Baptist Church Building Fund.
Bolton-Letlow Funeral Home is directing.