OBITUARIES

Columbus Dispatch, The (OH) - Wednesday, February 5, 2003
 
CHARLES Ralph L. Charles , 103, of St. Rt. 668 N., Somerset, died at 2:40 p.m.
Sunday, February 2, 2003 at Somerset Center. Ralph was born November 6, 1899 in
Middletown, Oh. He was a skilled welder at the age of 14. At 19, he worked with
Orville and Wilbur Wright at Dayton Wright Field. In the late 1920's, he owned
an airport in Zanesville called Wheeler's Field and built seven airplanes. In the
1930's he worked for various companies, T.A.T. and Atlantic Caribbean Airlines,
and flew Stinson's and Tri-Motors. He was a WW II Test Pilot for Curtis Wright.
After the war, he owned and operated Charles Alignment Service in Columbus. In
1964, he moved to Perry County, and built the Great Pipe Organ, where he and his
late wife held many concerts and recitals for various charitable organizations in
their home studio which held more than 200 people. He also hosted many fly-ins at
his home airstrip. Ralph had many highlights in his later years, including appear-
ances on David Letterman, Ed Johnson Agri-Country and The Today Show on his 100th
birthday with Willard Scott. Ralph attended many shuttle launches as a guest of NASA
and was given the opportunity to fly the space shuttle simulator in November, 2001.
The day following his 102nd birthday, Ralph flew his plane, and also kept active at
home, moving 25 acres until the age of 103. He attended many Oshkosh Experimental
Aircraft Association gatherings. Surviving are 3 step-grandchildren, Jerry Ray Pratt
of Pataskala, David Lawrence Pratt of Orient and Linda Carroll of San Antonio, Tex.;
2 special friends, Pat Greene and Gloria Reed, both of Somerset; 3 nephews, Robert
(Jessie) Charles of Cedarville, James E. (Pat) Charles of Mountain Home, Id. and Rich-
ard Fox of Dayton. He was preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by his wife
of 70 years, whom he married September 24, 1925, Leona M. Charles . Friends may call
from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 5, 2003 at the BOPE-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME,
Somerset, where service will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday evening with Pastor Bege
Wiegman officiating. Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 6,
2003 at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus. Memorial contributions may be made to the Red
Cross or Salvation Army.
 
Edition: Home Final
Section: NEWS
Page: 06C
Index Terms: OBITUARY; OBITUARY NAMELIST
Record Number: 0302050046
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Copyright (c) 2003 The Dispatch Printing Co.