Obituaries

Formerly of Norman, Oklahoma, died February 21, 2024, in her apartment at Chelsea Retirement Community in Chelsea, Michigan. She was 98.

Bobbie was born in Pineville, Missouri in 1925. She was the only daughter, with two older brothers, Edward (d.) and Joe (d.), and one younger brother in her family. The family lived in several southwest Missouri towns before she first attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, for one year. She then took a teaching appointment in a two-room school for a year, to help support her family. She resumed her studies at Drury for a second year before transferring to Oklahoma State University where she completed her bachelor’s degree in music. There she met Damon Ralph (d.) whom she married in 1949. The couple had three children, daughters Alice and Nancy, and son Gary.

As the children grew, Bobbie continued playing piano and organ for church services, singing and directing young choirs. When the family moved to Norman, Oklahoma, she resumed classroom teaching in grade schools. She spent summers and evenings studying for a master’s degree and, ultimately, received her Doctor of Music Education degree from Oklahoma University in 1970. These achievements led to an appointment at the University of Central Oklahoma as a professor of music.

Upon retirement, Bobbie traveled extensively and developed new interests in Tai Chi, Yoga and writing. In 2013, she moved, with her grand piano, to Chelsea, Michigan, near her daughter Alice.

A vibrant and generous spirit, a talented musician and mother of three, Bobbie was fearless in her observations, loved a good laugh and had a bold fashion sense. All who knew her loved her smile. She sparkled.

She will be remembered for her enjoyment of life, her spontaneity, her deep understanding of music, and her appreciation of beauty. She was remarkable in her ability to play piano and in the quality of her soprano singing voice well into her nineties. Bobbie had a rich inner life, yet she was able to be the life of the party; dancing solo was both a joy and a reflection of her personality.

Bobbie is survived by her children, her brother Hugh, his wife Dorothy and their daughter Margaret, and many nieces and nephews across the country.

In lieu of flowers, donations to a secular non-profit of your choice are encouraged.

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