DRURY, RALPH L., 82 of Louisville died Monday April 7, 2014 at 10:30 p.m. with family by his side. He was the son of the late James E. and Susie G. Drury. Ralph attended the University of Louisville and graduated in 1963 with a master's degree in physics. He married his high school sweetheart, Doris D. Clark in 1949. During graduate school, he worked in the University of Louisville Heart Lab on a substitute heart. The results were reported in the Journal of Applied Physiology, September 1962. In 1963, he went to work for N.A.S.A. in Huntsville, AL. During the next six years he worked as a resident project manager on space engines. The family really missed their beloved home in Kentucky. After attending a job fair, he was hired by The Courier Journal as an engineer in 1968. He worked on new technology and was a leader in the industry developing color printing presses. The Courier won several awards for their color printing using water based ink in a printing process called Flexo. After 28 years, he retired as vice president in 1996. He attended Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and served as deacon, moderator and trustee. Ralph was an avid golfer and loved to fish. He and his wife fished from Alaska to Costa Rica and enjoyed many beautiful sun rises and sunsets on the water. He worked on various zoning issues and always supported maintaining the rural setting around their farm in Jefferson County. At the age of 82, he was still planting trees. He is preceded in death by his sister, Joyce Stillwell. Ralph is survived by his wife of 64 years, Doris; two children, Wayne Drury (Renee) of Kirkland, WA and Ron Lee Drury (Claire) of Louisville; five grandchildren, Amalie Drury (J.C. Steinbrunner) of Chicago, IL, Claire Heckenburg (Karl) and Lee Drury, all of Louisville, Olivia Drury of Seattle, WA and Alexandra, of Kirkland; and a newborn great-grandson, Augustus Lee Steinbrunner, of Chicago. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 11, 2014 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 13800 Aiken Road, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 2-7 p.m. Thursday at Ratterman Funeral Home, 12900 Shelbyville Road, East Louisville and after 10 a.m. Friday at the church until service time. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial donations be made to the Continue the Legacy Fund at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 13800 Aiken Road, Louisville, KY 40245-4624. www.RattermanS.com
Published in The Courier-Journal from Apr. 9 to Apr. 11, 2014.