Ralph C. Ziegler Jr., dedicated to church
Ralph C. Ziegler Jr., 88, of Lewes, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015, at Delaware Hospice Center in Milford. He was born July 19, 1927, in Pittsburgh, Pa., son of the late Ralph C. Ziegler Sr. and Maud (Allison) Ziegler.
Mr. Ziegler proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from Sept.14, 1945, to Aug. 3, 1946, toward the end of World War II. He also served in the U.S. Army from Jan. 9, 1951, to Jan. 8, 1953, during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge, Mr. Ziegler embarked on a 36-year career with the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) from which he retired July 1, 1986, as a district administrative manager.
Mr. Ziegler was a longtime member of Lewes Presbyterian Church where he faithfully served in the church's financial leadership and management for the past 20 years. He helped establish and build up the church's endowment fund and was instrumental in planning the addition to the church's restoration project. His care and service extended beyond his own congregation as he provided financial assistance to several other churches within the denomination in the surrounding area.
Mr. Ziegler was also involved in the Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE) where he served for 10 years as a free, expert business mentor providing practical action plans, education and tools to help young entrepreneurs start and establish their business. He also served as a docent for Lewes Historical Society's Cannonball House.
When time permitted, Mr. Ziegler loved spending a day on the golf course, playing bridge with friends or going to the beach with his family. He was a master at crossword puzzles and enjoyed solving Sudoku puzzles.
His love and dedication to service touched many in his church and beyond. He will be dearly missed by his family and those who knew him.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Ziegler was preceded in death by his brother, the Rev. Herbert Ziegler. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Eleanor K. Ziegler; two sons: Ralph C. Ziegler III and his wife Julie of San Diego, Calif., and George Ziegler and his wife Lisa of Cincinnati, Ohio; two daughters: Alison Banister of Detroit, Mich. and Meg Pryor of Port Vedra Beach, Fla.; eight grandchildren: Daniel, Ryan and Lindsay Banister, Payton Pryor, Abby and Griffin, Ryan and Sarah Ziegler; and four nieces who were very special to him. The Zieglers had many pets over the years, but he will be greatly missed by Mr. P (Precious), their cat.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 28, at Lewes Presbyterian Church, Lewes. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Ziegler's memory to Lewes Presbyterian Church, Endowment Fund, 133 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE 19958.
Please visit Mr. Ziegler's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
