Obituary: Shindler, Ralph Lester
Age 93
Ralph, a son of the late C.J.
and Nellie (Ledbetter) Shindler was born in Rosalia, Washington.
Raised in Rosalia, Ralph graduated from Rosalia High School in 1939.
Before entering the military, Ralph worked for a year at the FBI.
He joined the United States Army in 1943, serving in the South Pacific until 1945.
Upon his return from WWII, Ralph attended Northampton Commercial College (NCC) in Massachusetts, where he received his Associate’s degree in business office practice.
He then taught business practice courses in Wilmington High School in Wilmington, Vermont before returning to NCC to teach for two years.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree and his Master’s degree in education between 1954 and 1959.
He worked for eight years as a teacher and then assistant principal at Longmeadow High Scho ol, followed by 16 years as principal of East Longmeadow High School, retiring in 1979.
Ralph resided in Longmeadow for five years, East Longmeadow for 12 years and in Arden, North Carolina for the past 28 years.
He enjoyed playing golf, watching football, and spending time with his family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Ralph was predeceased by his first wife, Virginia (Dodge) Shindler in 1974; his three sisters, Mildred Milner, Evelyn Morgan, and Clarice Holmes; and two brothers, Roy and Max Shindler.
He is survived by his wife, Jayne K. (Neumann) Shindler; a daughter, Judyth L. Roberts and her husband J. Timothy Roberts of Annapolis, MD; a son, John H. Shindler and his partner Richard E. Paine of Naperville, IL; a brother, Donald H. Shindler of Palm Springs, CA; two grandsons, Matthew H. Roberts and his wife Leah of Baltimore, MD.
and Timothy D. Roberts and his wife Kara also of Baltimore, MD; five great-grandchildren: Anna, Dodge, Ha rrison, Briggs and Parker Roberts; and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours for Ralph will be held on Monday, July 28, 2014, from 4-7 p.m., at Sampson’s Chapel of the Acres Funeral Home, 21 Tinkham Road, Springfield.
A funeral home service for Ralph will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 11 AM.
Officiated by Rev.
Father Robert J. Coonan.
Rites of Committal and Interment with Military Honors will follow in Hillcrest Park Cemetery, 895 Parker Street, Springfield.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Ralph’s memory may be made to the Ralph L. Shindler Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o East Longmeadow High School, 180 Maple Street, East Longmeadow, MA 01028.
A memorial service for Ralph will be held at a later date.