Ralph Galen Weatherholt

Ralph “Galen” Weatherholt, 71 of Elkhart, passed away Dec. 12, 2012 at Memorial Hospital of South Bend.

He was born Nov. 4, 1941 in Wells County, IN to Ralph and Mabel (Foust) Weatherholt. He married Marilyn Jean Case on Feb. 13, 1960. She survives with 3 sons, Lonnie (Denise) of Elkhart, Ronnie (Amy) of Goshen, and Donnie (Kristen) of Osceola; 2 daughters, Bonnie (Vince) Nickerson of Titusville, Fl and Connie (Aaron) Ebenroth of Goshen; 11 grandchildren, Tiffany, Marc, Derek, Andrew, Rachelle, James, Ashley, Nick, Breanna, Morgan and Drake; 5 step-grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 6 step-great-grandchildren; 4 sisters, Mary Blair of Culpert, TX, Joyce (Jim) Pace of Plano, TX, Carol (Dee) Schwartzkoff of Hartford City, IN and Kay Huffman of Poneto, IN. He was preceded in death by his parents and 4 brothers, Dwayne, Billy Joe, Sherman and Joey and a sister Rosalie Downhour.

Ralph graduated from Chester Center High School and was an over the road truck driver for 52 years, 20 years at Case Leasing and 32 years at LaSalle-Bristol. He accumulated 7 million miles accident free driving. He was an avid NASCAR fan and a Bobby Knight and IU basketball fan. He loved watching his kids and grandkids participate in athletics and school functions. He was on the original Board of Directors for Concord Little League and former Vice-president of the Concord Booster Club. He also was a member of the Elkhart Canadian Hunt Club.

Visitation will be from 12pm to 4pm Sunday at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart where a celebration of life will be at 4 pm.

Memorials may be given to Victory Junction, an organization for kids with chronic medical conditions.