CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Ralph S. Elmer, 92, of Cape Coral, Fla. and former resident of Waterbury, Conn. passed away on Sept. 29. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Carol Elmer in 2014. They spent 71 years together and are now reunited once again.
Ralph is survived by his children, Ralph R. Elmer (Bev) of Monticello, Ga., Mary Ellen Curtis-Hooper (Chris) and Lonnie J Elmer (Brenda) both of Lehigh Acres, Fla., and Patricia Giglio (Patrick) of Middletown, Conn. He also leaves behind 10 grandchildren, their children and grandchildren as well as relatives in the United Kingdom.
Ralph worked at Naugatuck Fuel Company for many years from the 1950s through the early 1980s. He was very well known in the communities of Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Ansonia, Prospect, Middlebury and Oxford delivering bottle gas in the early years then servicing furnaces in his later career. He spent many nights and weekends on call 24 hours a day to ensure his customers were never without heat when they needed it.
Ralph was born in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England. He served in the Royal Navy during World War II including the invasion at Normandy. He loved his homeland but was always grateful of the life that the United States provided him and his family. He also loved British history, naval and aviation history. When his health declined in his later years, he loved reading, solving puzzle games and tracking lottery numbers in hopes of winning. He especially enjoyed sampling various scotches and had a glass every Sunday, but never turned down an opportunity to have another if offered.
Ralph was a funny, kind, caring and highly moral man. He was born an Englishman and he died an Englishman. He was loved deeply and will be dearly missed. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Hospice House in Cape Coral for the warm and comforting care he received in his last days.
