Claire E. Ralph, 91, of Waldoboro, died Feb. 22 at her home.
She was born Nov. 15, 1927 in Rumford to Joseph Muzroll and Margaret Anderson Muzroll. Claire grew up in Rumford until her family moved to Waldoboro where she graduated from Waldoboro High School in the Class of 1945. She married her high school sweetheart, Ronald E. Ralph in 1946.
She worked in public schools for many decades including the Miller School in Waldoboro, Washington Elementary School, and A.D. Gray in Waldoboro. She was very good with the children. She was very giving, caring, non-judgmental, and positive as she helped them grow as people. She helped raise money for yarns and organized knitters to make mittens and hats for children in need.
She retired to travel with her husband Ronald. Together they travelled the world and 48 out of the 50 states. She would say that she was “building memories” for a time when they were no longer able to travel. They were also very active in harness racing, traveling all over the east coast with their race horses, including Indianapolis, a world record setting trotter.
Claire loved to entertain and was a wonderful hostess. She was also a great joke teller and loved a good party. In later years they spent their winters in Pompano Beach, Fla. There, Claire continued an active social life. She loved to give dinner parties and have house guests. On Tuesdays, she and Ronald enjoyed a drink with their friends at their special table at the Bog in Waldoboro.
She was a voracious reader. When her eyesight failed, she enjoyed books on tape which she ordered from the Maine State Library. In spite of her failing eyesight, she was interested in birding and would often ask friends and families about the birds at her bird feeders.
Claire was very community minded. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and an active member of the Waldoboro Garden Club where she was well known as the “The Tree Warden.” Claire would check the newly planted shade trees to ensure that they were thriving. Many of the trees along Waldoboro streets are from that time.
She was predeceased by older brothers, Lawrence and Ormand Muzroll.
She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Ronald E. Ralph of Waldoboro; daughter, Rhonda Collamore and husband Clint of Waldoboro; son, R. Stephen Ralph and companion Joylie Gushee of Waldoboro; grandchildren, Jennifer Dangar of Atlanta, Ga., Derik Reichenbach of Pompano Beach, Fla., Audrey Dennis of Suffolk, Va., and Sara Ralph of Yorktown, Va.; eight great-grandchildren; and bonus daughters, Deidre Blodgett, Betsy Wooster, Laurie Broberg, Bobbi Cohen, and Cindy Vannah.
Friends are welcome to join the family for a time of visitation 5-7 p.m., Fri., March 1 at Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro. A service to celebrate Claire’s life will be held at 1 p.m., Sat., March 2 at Hall Funeral Home. Rev. Robert Dorr will officiate. Burial will be in the Orff’s Corner Cemetery in the spring.
Should friends desire, contributions may be made in Claire’s memory to Good Shepherd Food Bank, 3121 Hotel Rd., Auburn, ME 04210; or Karl’s Kids, P.O. Box 363, Waldoboro, ME 04572.
Condolences may be shared with the family at hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral and Cremation Services, Waldoboro.
