Ralph A. Earle, of Wilmington, formerly of North Reading and Huntsville, Alabama, went to be with the Lord on December 27, 2024.
Ralph was born in South Weymouth, MA, on July 27, 1943; he was the cherished son of the late Rev. C. Austin Earle and Eunice J. (Starkie) Earle. Ralph, along with his brother David were raised in a loving home with wonderful parents who set an amazing example of how to be good person, give of yourself, and use the talents God gave you to help others. Ralph grew up in and attended various schools in New Hampshire; he was a graduate of Keene High School. Ralph went on to continue his education at Northeastern University in Boston, graduating with the class of 1966 and earning a B.A. in mathematics while minoring in physics.
Ralph was drafted into the United States Army in January of 1967. Ralph specialized in several Army schools including Microwave Radio Officers course, Satellite Communications, and IBM 1410 Auto coder Programming Course; he used his education while serving overseas in Korea during the time when experimental satellite communications were being introduced and he was one of only seven authorized personnel to have access codes for them. While serving, Ralph was responsible for a communications center and OIC of a telephone system serving HQ Eighth Army, the U.S. Embassy and surrounding units. Ralph dealt with the United Nations and foreign national personnel. Ralph was honorably discharged from active duty in December of 1968 but continued to serve the country in the Army Reserves until July of 1972.
Ralph led an impressive career throughout his life; he worked for Avco Everett Research Laboratory as an assistant scientist whose primary work assignments were in the areas of data reduction and analysis. He was a report coordinator and editor, as well as a proposal writer and manager of small contracts and scientist in radiometry. While at Avco he co-authored numerous research notes, wrote programs in FORTRAN, IBM, and Data General Nova assembler language, and was a coordinator of several other reports. Ralph went on to have a remarkable career with Teledyne, where he had top secret clearance as a Senior Systems Analyst; he retired following many years of dedicated service to the company.
Ralph was a man of great faith who loved his church here in North Reading as well as his church in Alabama where he lived for many years. In Alabama he conducted nursing home worship services every Sunday, serving communion and praying with the residents. Upon his return to Massachusetts to help with family, Ralph jumped right back into the Martin’s Pond Union Baptist where he was needed. When one of the church’s members required long-term care, Ralph visited her daily, sometimes multiple times a day for more than two years. Ralph served on the Christian Community Service board in North Reading for years. CCS oversees the Food Pantry. Ralph’s dedication led him to pick up day-old bread from a bakery. He delivered, sorted and gave it to the North Reading Food Pantry clients for years.
The “personal” Ralph was a soft-spoken, humble man who describes himself as “using the talents that God has given me, honoring God with my life, and being a good steward”. Ralph led by example always volunteering his time, talents, and generosity, to help others in need.
To quote his sister-in-law Susan, “Ralph has touched so many lives with compassion and generosity. I can’t begin to count the ways, but I do know his favorite Bible verse from Matthew 6:21, which he shares with us always.” “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Ralph was the dear brother of the late David A Earle and brother-in-law of Susan Joy Earle-Murray of Wilmington.
Family and friends will gather for a Service on Tuesday, December 31st at 11:00 a.m. in the Martins Pond Union Baptist Church, 4 Cogswell Road, North Reading, MA. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington, MA, at 12:30 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave., Wilmington, MA.
