Ralph E. Kilchenman

Ralph E. Kilchenman, age 94, of Dover, passed away Thursday, January 17, 2019, in Hennis Care Centre, Bolivar, following a brief illness.

Born August 24, 1924, in Stone Creek, he was a son of the late Ernest J. and Freida F. Lahmers Kilchenman. Ralph graduated from Stone Creek High School, and, on April 21, 1946, married the former Audrey Bahmer. The couple were blessed with four children and shared sixty-seven years of marriage prior to Audrey’s passing on January 21, 2014. Ralph was a precision tool and die maker employed by the Hercules Motors Corp., Canton, Joy Manufacturing Co., New Philadelphia, and the Reeves Steel Co., Dover, from which he retired.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Dover. At St. John’s Ralph served on church council and as Sunday school superintendent, as well as coaching the church’s high school basketball team - he loved basketball. Ralph was a hard-worker, an excellent handyman who could fix nearly anything, and especially enjoyed his “mini-farm” outside of Dover. He was a 4-H advisor in his younger days. Additionally, he was a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indians and Browns.

Survivors include his children, Ronald (Beth) Kilchenman of Wadsworth, Jim (Leslie) Kilchenman of Sanibel Island, FL, Victoria Lynn (Tom) Powell of North Canton, and Debi (Ron) Reed of Canton; his grandchildren, Brian (Lauren) and Eric Powell, and Jacob Reed; a great-grandchild is expected in the early spring; his companion, Sue Gamba; his brother, Earl (Shirley Dubetz) Kilchenman of Kent; and his nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents and his wife, Audrey, Ralph was preceded in death by his brother, Dale Kilchenman.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday, January 22, at 1:30 p.m., in Dover Burial Park; Rev. Thomas Dunkle will officiate. Following the ceremony, there will be a lunch in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard in Dover. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Ralph, please visit the obituaries link on the Toland-Herzig website.

The family suggests that contributions in Ralph’s memory be made to St. John’s U.C.C., 409 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, OH 44622, or, to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663.