"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
Tribute
Surrounded by his family, Ralph E. Dewey, 82, finished his earthly race and entered the presence of his Savior on Thurs., Aug. 29, 2024, after a months-long marathon of health challenges. He had been blessed with many family and friends whose visits at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic brightened his final weeks. The longtime history teacher, athletic coach, administrator, mentor, and storyteller, left an indelible impact on his students, players, colleagues, family, and friends.
Ralph was born on Dec. 2, 1941, to the late Ralph and Eleanor (Marriott) Dewey of Geneva. A 1959 graduate of Geneva High School, Ralph played baseball and football, and sports became a lifelong delight. At SUNY Brockport, he played hockey and earned a B.S. in Education with a concentration in Social Studies. In his first job at Middlesex Valley Central School, Ralph taught high school history. In his second and third year, he coached the boys’ varsity basketball team to back-to-back Section V Class C championships during the Vikings' 1964-65 and 1965-66 seasons. He would repeat that feat some 35 years later in Class D as head varsity coach for the Lima Christian Saints.
In August 1966, Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving primarily at bases in Arlington Hall, VA; and Udorn, Thailand during the Vietnam Conflict, coordinating soldiers’ sports and recreation among other duties. After his honorable discharge as a staff sergeant in 1970, he returned to the newly merged Marcus Whitman School District, reassigned to junior high history. On the first day of teacher in-service training, he met Shirley Ann Brasted, the junior high science teacher. They were married May 1, 1971.
Ralph earned his permanent teacher certification that year at Brockport, completed masters courses in education, and began courses in administration. As he and Shirley raised their four children together, he continued teaching high school history at Whitman for a total of 20 years. Ralph invested many years as Whitman’s modified baseball coach, assistant basketball coach, assistant and head varsity football coach, and serving as the district’s athletic director from 1978-86. He excelled at coaching student athletes on the fundamentals.
In 1986, he became director at LeTourneau Christian Conference Center in Rushville, where he led full-time and seasonal staff hosting year-round ministry retreats and camps, so guests could encounter Jesus and deepen their personal relationship with Him. When a March 1996 fire destroyed the family home and Dining Hall, Ralph led the team through a resourceful summer of service amid construction before he returned to a second teaching career, at Lima Christian School.
Ralph welcomed the opportunity to infuse faith into his teaching, encouraging students to grow in the character of Christ. In addition to teaching 9th–11th-grade U.S. History and Global Studies at LCS, he also taught credit-bearing AP history courses through Genesee Community College. His crossword puzzle homework assignments were familiar favorites to his students.
He again served as a boy's basketball coach, first for JV, then varsity. His 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 teams won Section V titles in Class D, some 35 years after his first dual championships. In 2000, Ralph also received Class D Coach of the Year honors.
Ralph’s time at LCS included servant leadership roles as athletic director, assistant principal and, in 2004, principal. Ralph enjoyed his LCS students so much that, after retiring as principal in 2009, he returned again to teach history part-time at LCS for the next five years a head basketball coach and assistant coach to former players.
He returned to LeTourneau as interim director from August 2014 into February 2015, and remained on the LeTourneau board of directors into 2023.
A longtime member, Sunday School teacher, and deacon at Middlesex Baptist Church, Ralph joined Crossroads (formerly Lima Baptist) Church during his tenure as LCS principal. As a veteran and patriot with a loyalty to the U.S. Constitution and founding fathers,, Ralph also served as an Ontario County elections inspector. He also enjoyed gathering weekly at the Canandaigua McDonald’s with fellow veterans and friends. The others drank coffee; Ralph had Diet Coke, no ice.
Ralph will be remembered as a humble servant-leader, mentor, and storyteller, who loved his Savior, his family, word search puzzles (especially those created by his grandson, Grant), his sports teams, and following the sports, theater, and extra-curricular achievements of his grandchildren, great-nieces and great-nephews. A lifelong fan of Pontillo’s Pizza, Ralph was also fond of Cinnamon Mentos gum, Moe’s Southwest, and orange popsicles.
Ralph is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shirley; his daughters Rachel, Debbie (Dave) Eckert, and Terri; his son Nathan (Emily) Dewey; grandchildren Skylar, Lily and Grant Eckert, and Kendall, Caiden, Reagan and Levi Dewey; brothers-in-law, Martin (Evelyn) Brasted and Lee (Martha) Brasted; sisters-in-law, Lucile (Fran) Clancy, Ellie (Dick) Bossard, and Ellen (Jon) Horton; and numerous Brasted clan nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Ralph and Eleanor Dewey, his aunt and uncle, Geraldine and George Dewey, his nephew Chad Clancy, and his niece Diane Brasted Kempf.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4: 7-8 (NIV)
In honor of Ralph’s masterful storytelling, the family invites sharing of brief video stories, photos, and written memories on this memorial page.
Share a Story or Photo
We would love for you to upload a photo or video to share with family and friends.
Photos: Select "Add a photo". Select "Upload". Select or drag and drop your favorite photo.
Video: Record a short video sharing your favorite memory, story, or something you appreciated about Ralph.
Option 1: Record the video. Upload to your YouTube Account. Send the link to dseckert12@gmail.com. We will upload it here.
Option 2: (No YouTube). Record a short video on your phone. Email or text to Debbie Eckert at dseckert12@gmail.com (215)630-9512 or Nate Dewey at ndewey25@gmail.com and we will upload it here.
Photo Gallery
Videos
Memory Wall
I remember enjoying every conversation I ever had with Uncle Ralph- and I loved his accent and also how he could chew his gum so fast and talk at the same time! I always looked forward knowing if we were at Aunt Shirley and Uncle Ralph's for dinner, we would be eating the best local pizza and then some yummy Sharks ice cream! I can remember how cool it was going for a motorcycle ride when I was little! In 2005 at the Brasted reunion in Philsville, my daughter Alyson, who was 2 at the time, had her arm come out of its socket and Uncle Ralph told me he was a pro at popping them back in place- and he did just that for alyson- and she didn't even wince- and neither did I! Alyson is currently running for KU - and she remembers picking out a KU sweatshirt for Uncle Ralph's sweatshirt collection, and said it was funny trying to do that with Uncle Ralph and her grandpa Lee Brasted on the phone with her while she was at the KU campus store finding just the right sweatshirt! She loved talking with him at family reunions about the sport of running. I loved Uncle Ralph and will miss him very much!
Niece Cynthia (Brasted) Moore
A very vivid memory. I had was the early 70s before Rachel was born, I’d get to spend a few days every summer with them at their home in Branchport, New York. In later years, I would spend time at their home in Middlesex.
I remember vividly playing with their St Bernard dog Honeybear!!
I’d get to stay one day longer each summer for four years. I know I spent seven nights the last summer. It was one of the most peaceful, fun times for me. (Being the oldest of eight children, I didn’t get much alone time )
I remember aunt Shirley and uncle Ralph having quiet times, praying And reading their Bibles together, at the top of stairs daily. They didn’t know I was watching them from the bottom of the stairs. I always remember that memory as it stuck in my mind, how important it must be to pray with your spouse!!
Another memory was they would bring their camper truck to the bottom of our parents driveway on Crosby Creek Road. My sister Charlene and I, would love to play in their camper.
I don’t recall if we ever actually got to sleep over, but we wanted to!
Uncle Ralph always made sure we had fun times together!
I will always remember & treasure their visits to Houston & him saying ‘hey Kel, how are you doing!’
Not very many people called me by my nickname Kel!
He was always so smiley! He sure loved both my late husband Jim, & my husband Kevin & daughter Christina & her family too!!
He was so full of joy and loved the Lord Jesus.
The last visit we had with him on July 14, 2024, I will always treasure! He remembered us, but he thought my husband was the pilot!! We told him he was close, our daughter’s the pilot!
We Love you uncle Ralph & our memories will always stay close in our hearts!!
Our prayers are surrounding you aunt Shirley & all you cousins Rachel, Debbie,Terri & Nathan and your family's!
CCA is praying as well.🙏🏽
I keep thinking about the educational advice and camaraderie I would get whenever your dad would visit PA. He would always ask about CCA and could always relate to whatever issue I was going through. He had a heart for students. I can only imagine how much he was loved by his school faculty and student body.
Praying for your family that you will find joy in memory of your husband/dad, peace beyond understanding in the time without him, and joy in the hope of seeing him again healthy and well in heaven.
🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️
Favorites
Service Information
Calling Hours: Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, 4- 7 pm, Zion Fellowship
Private Family Burial: Saturday, Sept. 7th, at 9 am. By invitation only.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Sept. 7, at 11 am, Zion Fellowship
View the Livestream, starting at 11 a.m. at the link below. (Service will be recorded and available for later viewing.)
5188 Bristol Rd
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Gifts in Memorium
Donations can be received by check or online:
Lima Christian School: http://ccny.us/dewey
1574 Rochester Street
Lima, NY 14485
LeTourneau Christian Center: https://letcc.churchcenter.com/giving
4950 East Lake Road
Rushville, NY 14454
