Ralph Edwin Zebarth, 95 years of age, passed away September 8, 2017 at his home in Bloomington.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 14, 2017 at West Twin Grove Church with Rev. Mickey Fuson officiating. Military Rites will be accorded by the Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard. Entombment will be in East Lawn Mausoleum, Bloomington.
He was born in Augusta Wisconsin on May 9, 1922 to John and Wilhemena Roths Zebarth.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Patricia, a sister, Dora White of Henderson, NV, his son Mike (Pam) of Rockfall, CT., two step-daughters Pam Reynar (Earl), and Mary Linder (Greg) both of Bloomington, a step-son Ken Carney of Winterhaven, FL, four grandchildren M. David (Jenn) Zebarth of Cheshire, CT., Brian (Jen) Zebarth of East Hampton, CT., Kendall and Tyler Linder of Bloomington, three great-grandchildren Ian, Drew, and Alenna. He was predeceased by his brother Orrin G. Zebarth and a step-son Tom Zebarth.
Ralph left the University of Wisconsin to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. Upon completion of his navigator training, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. He was dispatched to Ceringola, Italy just prior to D-Day and flew 50 combat missions including several over infamous Polesti, Rumania, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals. He returned to the U.S. in early 1945 and was discharged after V-E day.
Ralph took a job as an ordinance inspector at Eureka-Williams Co. in Bloomington, IL shortly after returning. He worked as a design engineer for Gale Products in Galesburg, IL where he lived for a couple of years with his first wife, Florence, and gave birth to their son, Michael. They soon returned to Bloomington where he began a long career with Eureka. He served as a design engineer, manager of quality assurance and finally manager of plant engineering. He met his current wife Patricia there and they were married on August 2, 1979. Ralph retired from Eureka in 1992.
Ralph was well known as a small business owner in his spare time, first with Zebarth Fire Extinguisher Service and later with Triple-R Tax Service. What little remained of his leisure time was spent on the golf course. Ralph was an avid fan of Arnold Palmer and one of his fondest memories was meeting Arnold and getting his autograph. Some of his son, Mike’s fondest memories are playing golf with his Dad at the Den. Pat and Ralph traveled extensively after retirement. Trips were often motivated by either family reunions, 459th Bomber Group Reunions, or visits with Mike and his family in Connecticut.
Ralph was an active member in the West Twin Grove Christian Church.
Memorials may be made to West Twin Grove Church, Bloomington.
To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
