Ralph J. Link

LINK, Ralph J., age 95, of Dayton passed away peacefully on July 7, 2021 at Hospice of Dayton. Ralph was born December 21, 1925 in Cranberry Prairie, Ohio in Mercer County to Urban and Augusta (Muhlenkamp) Link.

He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Esther Link; children, Nancy (Jeff) Merriman, Cindy (Steve) Belcher, and Douglas (Beverly) Link; grandchildren, Leo (Megan) Link, Wyatt (Faith) Link, Terry (Haley) Gilhooly, and Jack Belcher; great-grandchildren, Benson Link, Aria Link, and Emmett Gilhooly; and sister, Bernice Stacey. Ralph is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Edna Prenger, Hulda Feltz, Viola Leugers, and Eileen Ranly; and brother, Melvin Link.

He was a graduate of St. Henry High School, where he was an all-state high school basketball player and a lifetime sports enthusiast. Ralph then received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps 15th Air Force, serving in the Pacific Theater during WW II as a tail gunner on a B29 Bomber. Ralph also participated in the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. He married the love of his life, Esther Hemmelgarn, on June 9, 1949 at St. Francis Church in Cranberry Prairie, OH. They built a life together, raising three children. Ralph worked for Chrysler Air Temp, retiring as National Sales Manager in 1970. In that same year, he was named president of Airtron, who would eventually merge with Arco. Ralph retired from Arco in 1984 as Senior Vice President. He went on to serve as a mentor at the age of 85, teaching entrepreneurship at the University of Dayton. Ralph was a member of the Board of Directors of the Wright Image Group and a member of the American Business Club. He enjoyed fishing, card games, and traveling the world, most especially to Las Vegas. A connoisseur of fine wine, Ralph could be found playing a round of golf, cultivating friendships both on and off the green. He was a jogger, impressively jogging enough miles to circumnavigate the globe. Ralph loved and cherished his family, prioritizing them above all else.

Family will receive friends from 4:00pm-7:00pm Tuesday, July 13 at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00pm Wednesday, July 14 at St. Albert the Great Church, 3033 Far Hills Ave., Kettering with Fr. Chris Worland officiating. Livestream of the service will be available to view from the church's website, https://www.stalbertthegreat.net/. Burial at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Albert the Great Church, 3033 Far Hills Ave., Kettering, OH 45429.