Ralph William Hedrick

Ralph William Hedrick, 94, of Mansfield, passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at his home.

Ralph was born February 22, 1930, in Mansfield, Ohio and was a lifelong resident. He was the fifth of seven children and the son of George and Dorthea Hedrick. Ralph attended school in a one-room schoolhouse but quit school at the age of 13 to go to work to help support his mom and two younger siblings. This was the start of a lifetime of compassion, loyalty, duty, and sacrifice, which continued until his last breath.

Ralph was a veteran of the U. S. Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. After returning from Germany, he soon met his wife and together they raised four children, Robert, Ronald, Pamela and Randal.

After a short stint working at Westinghouse, he started working for Montgomery Ward, when it was located at Third and Walnut in Mansfield. After the store moved to the Miracle Mile and became a big department store, Ralph ran the auto service department, then moved to selling tires and finally to selling furniture in the main store for many years before retiring. He was always one of the top salesmen in the store, no matter if he was selling tires or furniture, because he knew how to treat people with fairness and respect. 

Ralph taught his children that we are our brother’s keepers. Ralph would send his boys down the street to mow an elderly lady’s lawn, not expecting to be paid. He’d help a struggling neighbor learn to plant a garden or clean up his trash properly. He’d pick up a hitchhiker and slip him a couple of bucks when he let him out of the car. He donated yearly to the Salvation Army at Christmastime, because as a child that organization had helped his family at Christmas…paying it forward.

He loved fishing and bowling. He was the city bowling champion in the 1960’s and continued to bowl until the age of 92. For many years, he would take his family to White Lake, Canada during the last two weeks in July so he could catch the big walleye. He loved the quiet out there and would do this for hours upon end.

Ralph found his faith in God in his 30’s, later in his life than many people, but once he found it, he lived it. He would quote scripture whenever his family needed reminders: “pride comes before the fall”, “take the moat out of your own eye before looking for it in another’s”, “judge not, lest you be judged”, and most of all, “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

Ralph was married to Geneva Hedrick for 64 years before her passing in 2016.

He is survived by sons, Rob and his wife, Deb, Ron, Randy and fiancé, Stephanie; his daughter, Pam Bennett and her husband, Rick; four grandchildren, Sarah Kortz, Christopher Hedrick, Brian Hedrick, and Katie Hedrick; and seven great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, September 16, 2024, at Werner-Gompf Funeral Services, ltd., 1106 Park Avenue East, Mansfield.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at the funeral home with Chaplain Reggie Cureton officiating.  Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park, Ontario, Ohio.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ralph William Hedrick, please visit our floral store.