Ralph Clayton Keith

Ralph Clayton Keith of Orlando, Florida entered into glory Saturday morning, April 10, 2021 at the age of 85 years old. He was born February 18, 1936 to his parents Una B. Osborne and Edward Keith in St. Paul, Virginia, where he was raised. Ralph encountered deprivation as a youngster, becoming malnourished enough to develop rickets. If he was visiting someone's home he would never accept an offered meal, as he had promised his mother he would always say that he had already eaten. Ralph worked at a neighboring farm as a child to be able to provide food for himself. He left home at the young age of 16 and joined the military, having exaggerated his age to 18. He sent money home to his mother for many years to help support his younger siblings.

While on leave from the Air Force for Christmas one year, Ralph met the love of his life, Fanny "Bernice" Keith in downtown Coeburn, not far from his hometown. He was immediately smitten and asked her to marry him the 2nd time they met. Considering that she would have been in trouble for going home late, Bernice made the prudent decision to accept his proposal, and the two eloped and were married on December 23, 1957. The story goes that her older brothers were searching for Ralph and may have killed him if they had caught up to him as their baby sister was only 18 years old at the time.

The Keith family grew and they added 3 sons and a daughter to their family, all while moving from state to state as the military dictated. The military life was all they knew, and it was a good life for the most part. Ralph was sent away from his family to tours in Korea and also Vietnam. The longest stretch that saw the family together in one place was 3 years in the Panama Canal Zone, which the family looks back on fondly. Ralph also enjoyed his time in Germany, as the family were able to go with him. The Air Force afforded many experiences foreign to the average family. Ralph was always proud of his service and thankful for how the Air Force took care of him as a retiree.

Ralph retired from the military in 1975 and moved to Orlando, Florida where he started a new career as a car salesman at Don Mealey Chevrolet, and later at World Chevrolet. He was a stellar salesman, and was top salesman out of 40 for nearly every month he worked. He was charismatic and honest, and had many repeat customers. He and his family also joined the church family that Ralph and Bernice are still members of today, at the time it was called First Baptist Church of Union Park, but is now Grace Journey Community Church.

Ralph retired from selling cars after he was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer in the late 90's. The cancer was a result of Ralph having been unfortunately stationed in an area of the jungle when it was sprayed with Agent Orange, a powerful herbicide used by the military to eliminate forest cover during the Vietnam War. Ralph received treatment for the cancer, and recovered, but with life altering effects. He never went back to work. He later bought homes in Tennessee that he renovated and put on the overnight rental program. Ralph enjoyed managing those houses for many years, vacationing in Pigeon Forge often in one of his cabins, as he called them.

In his later years Ralph loved to go to the thrift stores with his wife Bernice and sit and chat with whoever ended up sitting near him. He loved to talk to people, and especially to tell them about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and how his life had been radically changed by Him. He would be the first to admit that he was not a good person before he received the gift of salvation, but God turned Ralph's life around. Ralph became a good husband and family man, who was passionate about sharing his faith. Ralph loved his large family, and was so very proud of them and his family loved him right back. He will be missed by all but especially by his bride of 63 years.

Even though Ralph's life here on earth has ended, his eternal life has just begun. This is just the beginning. He has walked from death into life.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 63 years, Bernice, his children, Thomas (wife Uschi), Dan (wife Jennifer), Sherry (husband Danny), Mike (wife Lisa), David; his grandchildren, Beverly (husband Arnel), Jessica (husband Nathan), Christopher (wife Nicole), Matthew, Andrew, Kristi, Danielle, Nicole, Kyle; his great grandchildren, Rachael, Brooke, Kayleigh, Ben, Brayden, Aria, Sadie, Aris, Anya; and his sister Jenny (husband Howard) and many nieces and nephews, too numerous to count.

There will be a viewing on Thursday evening from 6pm to 8pm and A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, April 16 at 12:30pm. Both events will be at Grace Journey Community Church located at 10301 E Colonial Dr. Union Park Fl 32817.

In lieu of flowers, kindly send your love by way of donations to Thrive Pregnancy Center in honor of Ralph Keith. Ralph's home church was the founding church for this vital ministry, and he supported this ministry faithfully. Your donations will help support Thrive's fundraising drive that is taking place on Saturday April 17, the day following the funeral. Here is a link to our family walk in honor of Ralph to raise funds for Thrive http://www.fundeasy.com/m/5164987/

To share a memory of Ralph or leave a special message of condolence for his family, please visit the guestbook below.