• Services:  1:00 p.m. Friday at Rest Haven Memory Gardens, Belding

Mr. Ralph Edward Malone, age 78, of Turk Lake, Greenville, passed away Wednesday morning, June 18, 2008 at Spectrum Health United Memorial-United Hospital, Greenville. The son of Roy Burton & Catherine Inez (Bruce) Malone, he was born on Sept. 28, 1929 in Dalton, Georgia.

After graduating from Belding High School in 1946, he began working at the former Gibson Refrigerator Company and also attended college at the University of Michigan. He also obtained his real estate license and had worked at Kemp Realty.  He eventually returned to Gibsons and retired after over 40 years of service as a line foreman. On Sept. 29, 1951 he was married to Eleanor I. Corneil at the First Congregational Church by the Rev. Sinclair Parsons.  Together, they made their home on Colby Road near Turk Lake and enjoyed the outdoors together — especially mushrooming, hunting, and fishing. Eleanor preceded Ralph in death on Sept. 24, 2004. Ralph was a volunteer firefighter with Montcalm Township for 26 years, and in the past enjoyed flying airplanes, riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and playing the guitar and harmonica.

A life member of the Greenville Masonic Lodge No. 96 F&AM, he held a number of offices within the lodge, including several terms as master, and had held memberships in the Doric Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Greenville, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite-Valley of Grand Rapids, the Sons of the American Legion, the Moose Lodge, and the Saladin Shrine Temple, where he had been active in the Tryke Patrol and Security units, as well as the Midway Shrine Club. He also was a life-long member of the First Congregational Church in Greenville.

On Nov. 12, 2005 he was married to Janet Hansen at the First Congregational Church by the Rev. Jerry Jones. In addition to his wife Eleanor, Ralph was also preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Jeanette Malone; a brother, Billie N. Malone on Aug. 15, 1989; and a sister-in-law, Patricia Malone on April 14, 1997.

Surviving are his wife, Janet Malone and her family; a step-daughter, Sue Ann Kern; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Nielsen; two special nephews and a niece, Michael & Linda Malone of Greenville, Lee Roy & Tracie Malone of Chatsworth, Georgia, and Lynn & Ford Hier of Portland; several other nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews; and many special friends.

Graveside services are at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2008 at Rest Haven Memory Gardens, Belding, with the Rev. Jerry Jones, pastor of the First Congregational Church, officiating and Masonic rites conducted by the Greenville Lodge No. 96 F&AM. Honoring Ralphs wishes, there will be no public visitation and instead of flowers, Ralph would have appreciated memorial contributions to the First Congregational Church, 126 E Cass Street, Greenville, Michigan 48838.

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Ralphs online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please click the “Sign Guest Book” link above.