Ralph E. Kistler

Ralph Emerson Kistler, Jr., of Ligonier passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday December 27, 2013 at the age of 75 and went to be with his Lord and Savior. He was born at home on the family farm near Leiters Ford, Indiana on May 12, 1938, the son of Ralph E. (Sr.) and Verna B. (Cripe) Kistler. On June 27, 1959 he married Harolaine Marie Hoover in the Monterey Methodist Church in Monterey, IN. Ralph graduated as salutatorian in Aubbeenaubee Township High School in Leiters Ford. He excelled on the track, basketball and softball teams with such skill that he had been scouted by several colleges for basketball and by a minor league for pitching. His sports career was sidelined by heart damage incurred from rheumatic fever during the spring of his junior year. Ralph attended Butler University his freshmen year and completed his last three years at Manchester College. He graduated with a B.S. in Biology Education. He then earned his M.S. degree in Biology at Ball State. Ralph taught various levels of science for 40 years with 38 of those at West Noble School Corporation, Ligonier. He came to West Noble in 1962 and taught at Perry, at the original Ligonier High School, and at the new West Noble High School. He retired from West Noble Middle School in 2000. He also served as an exchange teacher in Ewa Beach, Hawaii from 1975-76 where he taught Science at Ilima Intermediate School. He and his family lived in Ewa Beach, Oahu during that time. Ralph was also licensed by the State of Indiana to teach Health and Driver Education, and taught Driver Ed for about thirty years. For a few years following retirement, he also served as a College Supervisor for the Transition to Teaching Program at Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana. During summers between school years, Ralph kept busy with a variety of work, but he most enjoyed the thirty years he spent as a field inspector for Indiana Crop Improvement Association. Ralph had a deep, abiding faith in God and loved his family and treasured his friends. He ministered to others from 1974 as a member of both the Gideons and the Ligonier Evangelical Church where he served over the years as an usher, Sunday School teacher and in the choir. He also served others as a weekly volunteer at World Missionary Press in New Paris, Indiana for several years. Ralph enjoyed raising flowers and working daily crossword puzzles. He and his wife enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad. He is survived by his beloved wife Harolaine Marie Kistler of Ligonier; three children, Bonnie D. (Bill) Woodlee of Elkhart, IN, Kerry L. (Jil) Kistler of Springfield, MO, and Shareen S. (Jonathan) Lichtenberger of Wren, OH; seven grandchildren, Kara and Zachary Woodlee, Sarah (Kistler) Fry, Justin, Jeremy and Christy Kistler, and Amber Lichtenberger; two great-grandchildren, Katherine and Andrew Kistler; two siblings, John M. Kistler of Indianapolis, IN and Cheryl K. Kistler of Goshen, IN. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Joe K. Kistler; and a granddaughter, Lydia Rose Lichtenberger. A funeral service in Ralph’s memory will be held on Saturday January 4, 2014 at 11 AM with calling beginning at 10 AM at the Ligonier Evangelical Church, 1911 Lincolnway South; Ligonier, IN 46767. Pastors Troy Diersing and John Lutton will be officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Park Cemetery in Ligonier. Family and friends will be received from 2-4 & 6-8 PM on Friday January 3, 2014 at Ligonier Evangelical Church. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to World Missionary Press, Inc., 19168 CR 146 P.O. Box 120, New Paris, Indiana 46553 or to the Gideons International (Noble County Camp), c/o Dan Alspach, 6413 E. 600 N., Churubusco IN, 46723.