Deceased October 27, 2020
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In Memory
My dad died on Oct. 27, 2020, at home in Moorestown, N.J., at 91.
Born into a South St. Louis German American family, Dad and several John Burroughs School classmates, including best friend Ferg Fowler ’51, attended Amherst, sight unseen. Dad was a member of Phi Psi and earned his B.A. in chemistry. With his wife, Betsy, he attended his 25th to 65th reunions. For the 60th, Dad gave a vintage Glee Club recording to each classmate.
Dad served for two years with the U.S. Army Chemical Corps, stationed for his final six months protecting an airbase near London. In 1953 he started in sales with Union Carbide, which took him to NYC; Charlotte, N.C.; and Philadelphia, where he met Betsy Jane Davis. They were married in 1960, moved to Tulsa, began a family and moved farther, to Chicago, St. Louis and finally Moorestown.
Dad served as an elder, deacon and trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown. He was a member of the Moorestown Field Club and of the New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania (serving a term as president). For several years he raised funds for United Way of Burlington County. Dad lived with humor and optimism. He loved entertaining people in his decorated basement, including playing his “boomba” instrument.
After retiring, he and Betsy enjoyed traveling around the world, visiting with family and vacationing in Siesta Key, Fla. (including dinners with Skip Hunziker ’51, Ev Clark ’51 and their spouses). They took a riverboat cruise to celebrate Dad’s 90th birthday and last year attended grandchildren’s graduations from college and high school.
Dad loved his family, neighbors, friends, church, alma maters and Moorestown community. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, children Ralph ’83 (and wife Jan) and Charles and grandchildren George and Diane.
Ralph F. Gildehaus III ’83