Obituary of Ralph B. Eddy

Ralph Bromley Eddy, 71, of Greenville, passed away on Monday, October 29, 2012 following a heart attack. Born on October 11, 1941, in Hammond, Indiana, he was the son of the late Ralph Victor Eddy and the late Marguerite Brumley Eddy Holbrook and the step-son of the late Henry Lee Holbrook, all of Indiana. He was the devoted husband of Sandra Lumb Eddy, the beloved father of Erik Ralph Eddy (Margery) of Glenmont and Elizabeth Anne Eddy Smith (Michael) of Richland Hills, Texas, and grandfather of Jackson Sayers Eddy, Gabriel Bromley Smith and Nathaniel Carman Smith. He is also survived by a sister, Lynne Joanne Eddy George (Barry), niece Jennifer George and nephew Brian George, and an aunt and cousins in Indiana. A graduate of Wabash College in Indiana and the Indiana University School of Law, Ralph served in the Office of Special Investigations , United States Air Force at Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, New York. Upon release from the Air Force, Ralph was an Appeals Examiner at the Civil Service Commission and Senior Trial Attorney and Head of the Complaints Examining Unit of the Office of the Special Counsel in Washington, DC. Following retirement, he was a member of the Potomac Mediation Group in Maryland and was a Mediator for the United States Postal Service. He always said, however, that his family was his most important job, and he demonstrated his commitment to his family and friends in countless ways, always offering love, kindness, generosity, and support. In 2002 Ralph retired to Greenville, NY. There he became an active member of the Greenville-Norton Hill United Methodist Church, serving on many committees and singing in the choir. At his death Ralph was serving as the church Lay Leader. He was also a United Methodist Certified Lay Speaker and a Catskill-Hudson District Lay Leader. One of the great joys of Ralph’s life was singing. He was a former member of the Catskill Glee Club and a current member of the Mendelssohn Club. A highlight of his singing career was performing in a massed chorus at Proctor’s Theater with son Erik and grandson Jackson. He also was a lover of books and language and especially enjoyed a good play-on-words, even at his own expense. Friends and family are invited to call at the Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 State Route 81, Greenville from 5 to 8 PM, Friday, November 2, 2012. A Memorial Service will be held at the Greenville-Norton Hill United Methodist Church, Route 81 in Norton Hill, at 11 AM, Saturday, November 3, 2012. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Ralph’s name to the Memorial Fund of the Greenville-Norton Hill UMC, P.O. Box 599 Greenville, NY 12083. Light a candle at ajcunninghamfh.com.