Ralph Dunwoody
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Ralph Eden Dunwoody, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on November 11, 2020. He was born July 17, 1924 in Claremont, SD to Isaac and Martha (Blauel) Dunwoody. Ralph was the fourth of six children; their family included: Clifford, Gladys, Grace, Ralph, Delpha, and Donna. His mother married again, and to this union were added three half-brothers: Richard, Harley, Gene; three step-sisters: Grace, Virginia, Eunice; and three step-brothers: Lyle, Orville, Rodney. Ralph grew up and farmed near Claremont, Mansfield, and Ordway, SD, graduating from Westport School. Ralph served in the US Army, as an Infantry Technical Sargent, during WWII. Ralph married Elizabeth Burckhard in Aberdeen, SD.
After serving in WWII, he worked for Aberdeen Glass Company, thus beginning and perfecting a long career in the glass business. Ralph and his family moved to Pierre in 1963, and opened Oahe Glass Company. Ralph enjoyed designing and installing storefronts, installing canopies, repairing windows, and cutting custom mirrors. You can drive thru many towns in South Dakota and neighboring states and still see his work. Ralph worked full time, into his 80s, with custom glass construction. In 2005, the couple moved to Sioux Falls to be with their daughters. Ralph was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre, SD, and Christ the King in Sioux Falls, SD, and a lifetime member of the VFW Post 2038 and the American Legion Post 8.
Survivors include two sons, Richard (Pierre) and family and Robert (Mitchell) and family; and two daughters, Gail and Nancy (Sioux Falls), two sisters-in-law, Frances Jackson (Perry, OH), Eva Gage (Westport, SD), brother-in-law Robert Brown (Bellevue, NE); and numerous nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents; brother, Clifford (Deloris); sisters: Gladys (Marvin/Archie) Newcomb/Bass, Grace (Clements 'Skeats') Kramer, Delpha (Clarence) Rose, and Donna (Raymond) Adler. Sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Raymond (Phyllis) Burckhard, infant Joseph Burckhard, Rose (Dallas 'Tony') Fenske, Apollonia 'Appy' (Eli/Gene) Schlabach/ Kereszturi, Delores 'Lori' (L.L. 'Bud') Campton, Marie 'Honey' (Leo) Schumacher, Teresa Brown, and Harley Gage.
Ralph will be interred beside his wife, Elizabeth, at St. Mary's Cemetery in Aberdeen, SD. Full obituary can be found at www.heritagesfsd.com