Ralph K.Wittle, formerly of Chadds Ford, died at the age of 88.He was born Ralph Koser
Wittle on August 30, 1922 in Florin,. He was the youngest of 15 children and son of John
Diffenderfer Wittle and Mattie Boyer Koser.He spent his formative years growing up in Lancaster County.
During WW II he served with the 407th Infantry
Regiment,102nd Infantry
Division U. S. Army in the European Theater.For his actions during combat operations he earned the Combat Infantry
Badge and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor.
Following his release from military service, he worked for the
Hamilton Watch Company and later attended Bowman Technical School for clock and
watch making in Lancaster, graduating as a certified master watchmaker and
engraver.Shortly upon completion
of his vocation training he moved to Wilmington,and worked as a watchmaker for Carl A.Doubet Jewelers at the 9th and
Orange Street store. He subsequently joined Sears where he initially worked at
the Wilmington Market Street store as a watchmaker and later transitioned to
the Prices Comer store where he worked invarious positions until his retirement.
Over the years he was active in various community activities and
organizations throughout the Delaware Valley. His involvement as a leader in
Boy Scouts ranged from Assistant Scout Master to Assistant District
Commissioner.During his retirement
years he spent many hours serving as a volunteer and docent at the Christian C.
Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford.He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and
American Legion. He served as a deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church and
was an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Kennett Square. His hobbies
and diversions included painting and sketching,hiking with his late wife,and he was a history buff, particularly on the revolutionary and
civil wars and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Ralph Wittle was predeceased by his wife of nearly 27 years,
Helen Corine Smith Arrington and his stepson, Millard F. Arrington. He is
survived by his sister Elizabeth Wittle Goodling of Mount Joy;two stepdaughters and stepsons-in-law,Barbara A.Hyatt and husband Gregory of Chadds Ford,and Rebekah Ritter and husband Floyd of
Reading;two sons and daughters-in-law, Col. David L.Wittle USMC (Ret) and wife Patricia of
Virginia Beach,Va. and Lt. Col. Stephen
B.Wittle USMC (Ret) and wife Deborah of Stafford,Va.,and stepson Matthew Arrington of Long Beach, Calif.; and 13
grandchildren,16 great grandchildren.
The Family will receive friends on Saturday, Feb. 12, from10-10:30
a.m.at the Presbyterian
Church of Kennett Square, 211 South Broad Street,
Kennett Square. His funeral service will follow at 10:30.Internment will be in Longwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flower,the family requests donations are sent to a memorial at the
Presbyterian Church of Kennett Square, 211 South Broad Street, Kennett Square,PA 19348.
Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, Kennett
Square.
Online condolences may be made by
visiting www.griecocares.com
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Ralph was one of our best and most loyal volunteers at the Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford.
Before his health declined he was at the museum every Saturday and Sunday.
During the Museum’s dark days with few volunteers, he was always there.
He was always 100% in support of all the changes and progress that we were making.
He was knowledgeable about the Sanderson’s art and military collections and had met Chris Sanderson through his work with the Boy Scouts.
Ralph gave me a copy of a photo of him in the army in Germany in 1942 which I cherish.