McALISTERVILLE, Ralph E. Rickenbaugh, 87, of McAlisterville, went to his heavenly home at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 while at Brookline Manor, Mifflintown.
Born on April 9, 1927, in Fermanagh Township, Juniata County, he was a son of the late Raymond and Hazel (Kinzer) Rickenbaugh. On December 11, 1945 he married his high school sweetheart, Geraldine (Arbogast) Rickenbaugh, with whom he shared more than 68 years of marriage.
In addition to his wife he is survived by his children, Rosemary Jones and her husband Roger, Joel Rickenbaugh and his wife Joyce (Long), Timothy Rickenbaugh and his wife Vonnie (Kratzer), all of McAlisterville; a sister Shirley Weller, of McAlisterville, seven grandchildren, Kasi Coder, Toby Jones Josh Rickenbaugh, Jill Neimond, Wesley Rickenbaugh, Billie Haines, and Bobbi Jo Leister all of McAlisterville. By being blessed with nine great-grandsons and a step-great-granddaughter Ralph finally got his own baseball team and a cheerleader.
A brother, Paul Rickenbaugh, a sister, Alma Zimmerman, two brother-in-laws, Calvin “Caddy” Zimmerman, A. Jack Weller, and a nephew, Robert “Bob” Zimmerman preceded him in death.
Mr. Rickenbaugh was a lifelong member of the Pine Grove United Methodist Church, Oakland Mills, where he served in many capacities. He also served on the Advisory Board of the Juniata Valley Bank, McAlisterville.
During WWII he proudly served his country with the U.S. Army.
Ralph was Founder and President of Rickenbaugh Building Supply. He along with his father and two sons were blessed with the business skills that brought Rickenbaugh Building Supply to our community. Ralph enjoyed working in the family business until his retirement in October of 2013.
He was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who was an avid outdoorsman spending every year pursuing his love of hunting the whitetail deer in Pennsylvania and Montana with much success. Praise God! He was a passionate Philadelphia Phillies fan who also enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s sporting events.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2014 at the Pine Grove United Methodist Church, Oakland Mills with the Rev. Terry Smith and the Rev. Edward D’Agostino officiating. Interment will follow in the Hillside Cemetery, McAlisterville
There will be no public viewing; however family will receive friends from 9:30 until the time of service, Monday, at the church.
Brown Funeral Homes, Inc., 111 Westfall St., McAlisterville has been entrusted with the arrangements.
The family will provide all funeral flowers and kindly ask that donations in Ralph’s memory, be made to the Pine Grove United Methodist Church, 4633 Cuba Mills Road, Mifflintown, PA 17059.

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