GLENDORA — Ralph T. Hand Jr. passed away on Thursday, Feb. 18, after a long evening spent sharing family stories and listening to music from his family songbook. Ralph was born on Nov. 27, 1929, in Camden, New Jersey, to Florence Watson Hand Bush and Ralph T. Hand Sr.
Ralph would like to be remembered as a man who served the Lord, was devoted to his wife and their family, and always maintained a sense of humor and joyful appreciation for life.
Ralph was valedictorian of his high school class and graduated from Dartmouth College. He went to Dartmouth without knowing a single student and was quickly surrounded by friends as he became the president of the Glee Club, co-captain of the Dartmouth cheerleaders and a member of the Green Key Honorary Society.
After graduating in 1951, Ralph joined the Army and became a member of the 11th Airborne division; graduating training camp in the top of his class and going on to serve as a paratrooper, then a Pathfinder, who were the first to jump into combat zones through the end of the Korean War. It was just before entering training camp that Ralph went on a blind date that would lead to his improbable life as a Northern accountant turned Southern farming, civic leader. On Dec. 6, 1952, while stationed at Fort Campbell, Ralph married Elizabeth Peacock Sturdivant of Glendora.
After working for a “Big Ten” accounting firm in Philadelphia for two years, Ralph heeded the advice of his brother-in-law, Mike Sturdivant, and moved to the family farm, Good Luck, where he and Elizabeth lovingly raised three daughters and a son. Ralph flourished in his new life, making many life-long friendships and forging deep ties to the community. He was a member of the Glendora United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school, led the youth choir, adult choir, served on the board and played organ and piano for more than 50 years. He was also active in the Glendora Lions Club, becoming District Governor of Lions Club; served as president of the Delta Council; was elected as King of the Cotton Ball in 1984; was an original founder of Delta Wildlife; sat on the board of Tallahatchie General Hospital, serving as president for several years; served on the boards of the Tallahatchie County Farm Service Agency, The Farmers Service Co-Op and the Delta Purchasing Federation, where he oversaw the Federation’s merger with Southern Farmers Regional Farm Cooperative and became the executive vice president, traveling internationally to build farming infrastructures in developing countries.
Sadly, after 22 years of marriage, Ralph’s wife, Elizabeth, passed away on March 24, 1974. He went on to marry his second wife, Edie Hoshall Crump Hand, on April 12, 1976. They maintained homes in both Glendora and Memphis, where Ralph attended The Church of the Holy Communion, served as board member and president of the Woodlands Board of Advisors and spent many wonderful Thursday nights at the Memphis Country Club with Edie and their tennis club friends.
Ralph was, above all, a wonderful gentleman with a humble spirit who radiated kindness and joy to all those who encountered him, especially his devoted family. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his first wife Elizabeth and second wife Edie; son, Ralph T. Hand III; son-in-law, Bruce Vick; stepson, Robert Crump; and brother-in-law, Mike Sturdivant.
He is survived by his daughters, Sherrye H. Williams (Pete), Nancy H. Vick and Elizabeth H. Hamlin (Robert); step-daughters, Pam C. Handwerker (Mike) and Willie J. Crump (Alan Brown); stepson, Dabney H. Crump (Linda); grandchildren, Peter Williams, Florence Williams, Mary Helen Williams, Brittany V. Pulido (Andy), Wendy deLassus (Patrick), Elizabeth Hamlin, Katie Hamlin, Trey Hamlin, George Handwerker, Dabney Wiley (Kenny), Jordan Crump; and great-grandchildren, Sadie Pulido, Edie Handwerker, Kala Lucchesi and Nicholaus Lucchesi.
A celebration of Ralph’s life was held at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at Church of the Holy Communion, 4645 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis. The burial followed at St. John’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial gifts be made to the Glendora United Methodist Church, Church Health Center, Church of the Holy Communion, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the American Cancer Society.
Canale Funeral Directors had charge of arrangements.
