Ralph Rhoten

Ralph Rhoten, 77, Sebring, Florida died May 5, 2011 in Tampa, Florida with his wife, Marcia and daughter, Sharon, by his side. Death came quickly and unexpectedly after a short, courageous battle with cancer. Ralph was a member of the Mason fraternal organization. Ralph was born June 29, 1933 in Mount Zion, Kentucky to William Henry and Emma Elizabeth Bernard Rhoten, the youngest of seven children. He was married on 6 Oct 1956 to Marcia Ann Gehlsen in Columbus, Mississippi who he met when both were serving in the USAF at Biloxi AFB, MS. Ralph, an avid pilot, served four years in the United States Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller and continued in that career in Civil Service until his retirement in 1984. His career meant traveling and the family lived in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alaska and Kentucky until he and Marcia retired to Florida in 1993. In retirement he enjoyed fishing, golfing, dove hunting with his wife as his hunting partner and tinkering in his garage. He was a compassionate man and was quick to help his friends, neighbors and even strangers. He had a wonderfully dry sense of humor and loved to torment others with his sharp wit. His love of his family ran deep, and Pappy will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Marcia, his son, Jay Rhoten and wife, Trisha, Ft. Collins, CO and his daughter, Sharon and her husband Paul Kucyk, Wake Forest, NC; grandchildren Josh Rhoten, Kolby and Cooper Kucyk; a brother Clifford Rhoten, Concord, California; a sister-in-law Barbara Nugent and her husband Jerry, Murrieta, CA, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and three sisters. A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Sebring, FL on Sunday May 8th at 2pm. All friends and family are welcomed to join in the service of worship to witness the resurrection. In the face of death we affirm with tears and joy the hope of the gospel. We do not bear bereavement in isolation but are sustained by the power of the Spirit and the community of faith. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society or to Good Shepherd Hospice, 1110 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872.