When Ralph Wilson Allen was born on January 4, 1921, his father, Evan, was 28 and his mother, Vashti Moore Allen, was 23. He grew up in Richmond, VA, and graduated from the University of Richmond. He then attended and received his M.S. from VPI-SU. He married Susan Virginia Gantt on November 21, 1942. With the outbreak of World War II, he joined the US Navy. He received a commission and served on the USS Emory in the Pacific Theater.
Virginia and Ralph had two children during their marriage. After the war, he worked for Reynolds Metals in Richmond but moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1947. He later was diagnosed with prostate cancer and returned to Virginia for treatment. He died on January 26, 1990, in Richmond City, Virginia, at the age of 69, and was buried in Roseland, Virginia with his wife's family. His parents are buried in Riverview Cemetery in Richmond, VA.
Letter of Maria Gantt Keller dated 30 Jan 1990 written after Ralph's funeral
Dear family and loved ones:
We have seen and talked to most of you on Monday but those that are far away, we send our love. Ralph Allen died at St. Luke's Hospital on Friday, January 26. His heart just stopped at 8 o'clock in the morning. Dr. Q was there with Gin and Leroy arrived in a few minutes. Gin received all the love and support possible from family and friends, and the hospital staff. The funeral was held at Woodys, Parham Chapel at 11 o'clock with interment in Jonesboro Cemetery, Roseland at 3:30, in a cold, pouring rain. Nevertheless, the cemetery hill was filled with family and friends under umbrellas.
Mother went with us to Nelson for the funeral and gathering at Lewis and Helen's and was a real trooper. She stood the trip fine and slept all night, as we did. After the funeral, all of the family and friends had lunch with us, including our beloved minister from Ginter Park, Jack Schutte, and from here half of them traveled with us to Jonesboro Cemetery (in the pouring rain). Following a nice service on the hillside, looking into the misty Blue Ridge Mountains, we assembled at the Gantts, about seventy-five of us, for a nice supper, prepared by Helen and Lewis and Catherine Earle and Don. The basement was filled with young folks, the bedrooms with children, who behaved beautifully, the dining room, living room and family room filled with the older family and friends, Mahones, Gantts, Wilsons, Carters, Kellers, on and on and on. Sorry to say Ralph had few relatives, two cousins, and two others, who did not go up with us. He did have his beloved friends the Forbergs, and his close friends from VPI days, and Reynolds Metals with us all the way. Julie and Jackie Sisk were of the greatest comfort to Gin and to us and Jimmy Allen was in Nassau but managed to fly home and be by Gin's side. Evelyn and Harry came up from Virginia Beach to be with us but did not travel to Nelson. Melvin Fulks was at the funeral, as was Ron Swan, Sr. and Ginter Park folks, and Margaret Keller Barker, who will remember it as a highlight in her life to her dying day. Kathy Keller was the mainstay for the meals over the weekend, through Monday's lunch, and my neighbor Dot Trainum came to help. We were proud of our boys, Andy and Bobby, and their families and wished that Kathryn (Andy's wife) and children could have gotten up to be with the family. We missed a few members of the family, but not many.
Today we are answering the phone, washing clothes and getting ready to resume daily living. Gin is in Farmville where she will stay for about two months. Julie and Jackie are with her until possibly Friday when they will return to Tennessee. Jimmy is to drive the Nova back to Kentucky today.
Our eternal thanks will go to Jack Schutte who took Monday to minister to our family. Don and Catherine Earle and Lewis and Helen are wonderful, and Leroy is the best yet.
Now to get down to work. With love to you all, Ria
Virginia and Ralph had two children during their marriage. After the war, he worked for Reynolds Metals in Richmond but moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1947. He later was diagnosed with prostate cancer and returned to Virginia for treatment. He died on January 26, 1990, in Richmond City, Virginia, at the age of 69, and was buried in Roseland, Virginia with his wife's family. His parents are buried in Riverview Cemetery in Richmond, VA.
Letter of Maria Gantt Keller dated 30 Jan 1990 written after Ralph's funeral
Dear family and loved ones:
We have seen and talked to most of you on Monday but those that are far away, we send our love. Ralph Allen died at St. Luke's Hospital on Friday, January 26. His heart just stopped at 8 o'clock in the morning. Dr. Q was there with Gin and Leroy arrived in a few minutes. Gin received all the love and support possible from family and friends, and the hospital staff. The funeral was held at Woodys, Parham Chapel at 11 o'clock with interment in Jonesboro Cemetery, Roseland at 3:30, in a cold, pouring rain. Nevertheless, the cemetery hill was filled with family and friends under umbrellas.
Mother went with us to Nelson for the funeral and gathering at Lewis and Helen's and was a real trooper. She stood the trip fine and slept all night, as we did. After the funeral, all of the family and friends had lunch with us, including our beloved minister from Ginter Park, Jack Schutte, and from here half of them traveled with us to Jonesboro Cemetery (in the pouring rain). Following a nice service on the hillside, looking into the misty Blue Ridge Mountains, we assembled at the Gantts, about seventy-five of us, for a nice supper, prepared by Helen and Lewis and Catherine Earle and Don. The basement was filled with young folks, the bedrooms with children, who behaved beautifully, the dining room, living room and family room filled with the older family and friends, Mahones, Gantts, Wilsons, Carters, Kellers, on and on and on. Sorry to say Ralph had few relatives, two cousins, and two others, who did not go up with us. He did have his beloved friends the Forbergs, and his close friends from VPI days, and Reynolds Metals with us all the way. Julie and Jackie Sisk were of the greatest comfort to Gin and to us and Jimmy Allen was in Nassau but managed to fly home and be by Gin's side. Evelyn and Harry came up from Virginia Beach to be with us but did not travel to Nelson. Melvin Fulks was at the funeral, as was Ron Swan, Sr. and Ginter Park folks, and Margaret Keller Barker, who will remember it as a highlight in her life to her dying day. Kathy Keller was the mainstay for the meals over the weekend, through Monday's lunch, and my neighbor Dot Trainum came to help. We were proud of our boys, Andy and Bobby, and their families and wished that Kathryn (Andy's wife) and children could have gotten up to be with the family. We missed a few members of the family, but not many.
Today we are answering the phone, washing clothes and getting ready to resume daily living. Gin is in Farmville where she will stay for about two months. Julie and Jackie are with her until possibly Friday when they will return to Tennessee. Jimmy is to drive the Nova back to Kentucky today.
Our eternal thanks will go to Jack Schutte who took Monday to minister to our family. Don and Catherine Earle and Lewis and Helen are wonderful, and Leroy is the best yet.
Now to get down to work. With love to you all, Ria
When Ralph Wilson Allen was born on January 4, 1921, his father, Evan, was 28 and his mother, Vashti Moore Allen, was 23. He grew up in Richmond, VA, and graduated from the University of Richmond. He then attended and received his M.S. from VPI-SU. He married Susan Virginia Gantt on November 21, 1942. With the outbreak of World War II, he joined the US Navy. He received a commission and served on the USS Emory in the Pacific Theater.
Virginia and Ralph had two children during their marriage. After the war, he worked for Reynolds Metals in Richmond but moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1947. He later was diagnosed with prostate cancer and returned to Virginia for treatment. He died on January 26, 1990, in Richmond City, Virginia, at the age of 69, and was buried in Roseland, Virginia with his wife's family. His parents are buried in Riverview Cemetery in Richmond, VA.
Letter of Maria Gantt Keller dated 30 Jan 1990 written after Ralph's funeral
Dear family and loved ones:
We have seen and talked to most of you on Monday but those that are far away, we send our love. Ralph Allen died at St. Luke's Hospital on Friday, January 26. His heart just stopped at 8 o'clock in the morning. Dr. Q was there with Gin and Leroy arrived in a few minutes. Gin received all the love and support possible from family and friends, and the hospital staff. The funeral was held at Woodys, Parham Chapel at 11 o'clock with interment in Jonesboro Cemetery, Roseland at 3:30, in a cold, pouring rain. Nevertheless, the cemetery hill was filled with family and friends under umbrellas.
Mother went with us to Nelson for the funeral and gathering at Lewis and Helen's and was a real trooper. She stood the trip fine and slept all night, as we did. After the funeral, all of the family and friends had lunch with us, including our beloved minister from Ginter Park, Jack Schutte, and from here half of them traveled with us to Jonesboro Cemetery (in the pouring rain). Following a nice service on the hillside, looking into the misty Blue Ridge Mountains, we assembled at the Gantts, about seventy-five of us, for a nice supper, prepared by Helen and Lewis and Catherine Earle and Don. The basement was filled with young folks, the bedrooms with children, who behaved beautifully, the dining room, living room and family room filled with the older family and friends, Mahones, Gantts, Wilsons, Carters, Kellers, on and on and on. Sorry to say Ralph had few relatives, two cousins, and two others, who did not go up with us. He did have his beloved friends the Forbergs, and his close friends from VPI days, and Reynolds Metals with us all the way. Julie and Jackie Sisk were of the greatest comfort to Gin and to us and Jimmy Allen was in Nassau but managed to fly home and be by Gin's side. Evelyn and Harry came up from Virginia Beach to be with us but did not travel to Nelson. Melvin Fulks was at the funeral, as was Ron Swan, Sr. and Ginter Park folks, and Margaret Keller Barker, who will remember it as a highlight in her life to her dying day. Kathy Keller was the mainstay for the meals over the weekend, through Monday's lunch, and my neighbor Dot Trainum came to help. We were proud of our boys, Andy and Bobby, and their families and wished that Kathryn (Andy's wife) and children could have gotten up to be with the family. We missed a few members of the family, but not many.
Today we are answering the phone, washing clothes and getting ready to resume daily living. Gin is in Farmville where she will stay for about two months. Julie and Jackie are with her until possibly Friday when they will return to Tennessee. Jimmy is to drive the Nova back to Kentucky today.
Our eternal thanks will go to Jack Schutte who took Monday to minister to our family. Don and Catherine Earle and Lewis and Helen are wonderful, and Leroy is the best yet.
Now to get down to work. With love to you all, Ria
Virginia and Ralph had two children during their marriage. After the war, he worked for Reynolds Metals in Richmond but moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1947. He later was diagnosed with prostate cancer and returned to Virginia for treatment. He died on January 26, 1990, in Richmond City, Virginia, at the age of 69, and was buried in Roseland, Virginia with his wife's family. His parents are buried in Riverview Cemetery in Richmond, VA.
Letter of Maria Gantt Keller dated 30 Jan 1990 written after Ralph's funeral
Dear family and loved ones:
We have seen and talked to most of you on Monday but those that are far away, we send our love. Ralph Allen died at St. Luke's Hospital on Friday, January 26. His heart just stopped at 8 o'clock in the morning. Dr. Q was there with Gin and Leroy arrived in a few minutes. Gin received all the love and support possible from family and friends, and the hospital staff. The funeral was held at Woodys, Parham Chapel at 11 o'clock with interment in Jonesboro Cemetery, Roseland at 3:30, in a cold, pouring rain. Nevertheless, the cemetery hill was filled with family and friends under umbrellas.
Mother went with us to Nelson for the funeral and gathering at Lewis and Helen's and was a real trooper. She stood the trip fine and slept all night, as we did. After the funeral, all of the family and friends had lunch with us, including our beloved minister from Ginter Park, Jack Schutte, and from here half of them traveled with us to Jonesboro Cemetery (in the pouring rain). Following a nice service on the hillside, looking into the misty Blue Ridge Mountains, we assembled at the Gantts, about seventy-five of us, for a nice supper, prepared by Helen and Lewis and Catherine Earle and Don. The basement was filled with young folks, the bedrooms with children, who behaved beautifully, the dining room, living room and family room filled with the older family and friends, Mahones, Gantts, Wilsons, Carters, Kellers, on and on and on. Sorry to say Ralph had few relatives, two cousins, and two others, who did not go up with us. He did have his beloved friends the Forbergs, and his close friends from VPI days, and Reynolds Metals with us all the way. Julie and Jackie Sisk were of the greatest comfort to Gin and to us and Jimmy Allen was in Nassau but managed to fly home and be by Gin's side. Evelyn and Harry came up from Virginia Beach to be with us but did not travel to Nelson. Melvin Fulks was at the funeral, as was Ron Swan, Sr. and Ginter Park folks, and Margaret Keller Barker, who will remember it as a highlight in her life to her dying day. Kathy Keller was the mainstay for the meals over the weekend, through Monday's lunch, and my neighbor Dot Trainum came to help. We were proud of our boys, Andy and Bobby, and their families and wished that Kathryn (Andy's wife) and children could have gotten up to be with the family. We missed a few members of the family, but not many.
Today we are answering the phone, washing clothes and getting ready to resume daily living. Gin is in Farmville where she will stay for about two months. Julie and Jackie are with her until possibly Friday when they will return to Tennessee. Jimmy is to drive the Nova back to Kentucky today.
Our eternal thanks will go to Jack Schutte who took Monday to minister to our family. Don and Catherine Earle and Lewis and Helen are wonderful, and Leroy is the best yet.
Now to get down to work. With love to you all, Ria
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