Ralph Dare

RALPH EUGENE DARE, 91, of Charleston, IL formerly of Hindsboro, IL, passed away at 7:24 P.M. on Friday, December 14, 2018 at The Villas of Holly Brook in Charleston, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at the Walnut Grove Christian Church, 12930 E CR 1700 N, Arcola, IL.   Rev. Steven Stern will officiate.   Entombment with military rites will be in the Mound Cemetery in Charleston, IL.   Visitation will be held from 12:30 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday at the church.  The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Ralph was born on April 27, 1927 in Mattoon, IL.  He was the oldest of 6 sons born to Roy Elsworth and Laura Viola (O’Dell) Dare.  He married Mary Virginia Swango on July 26, 1950 in Charleston, IL.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia; four children; Gloria Jean Jones and her husband Tom of Charleston, IL, Virginia Diane Stirrett and her husband Mike of Tuscola, IL, Daniel Leroy Dare and his wife Beverly of Mt. Vernon, IL, and Debra Elaine Dick and her husband John of Charleston, IL; six grandchildren, Chris Bales and his wife Jenni of Ashmore, IL, Jacob Dick and his wife Stephanie of Charleston, IL, Justin Dick of Charleston, IL Jason Dare of Oakland, IL Ryan Dare of Southern, IL and Niki Dare of Ashmore; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, Paul Dare and his wife Janet of Mattoon; and one half-brother: Mike Trail and his wife Donna of Neoga, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Dick, Don and Jim Dare.

Ralph went to work for the New York Central Rail Road when he was 15 years old, working on the “section gang”.   He was a Navy Veteran of WWII.  He enlisted when he was 17 years old and served on the U.S.S. Norman Scott/Destroyer.  He was in the Navy for 2 years.   When he got out of the Navy he went to work for Garwood Industries in Mattoon, IL running a big precision saw.

After marring Virginia, Ralph worked with Virginia’s dad, Omar Swango, to get his start in farming.  They eventually moved to a place between Oakland and Hindsboro called “Nip and Tuck”.    Ralph raised cattle, farmed and he was also a rural route mail carrier in the Oakland area for 18 years.  After he retired, he and Virginia moved back to the old home place on Route 130; they later moved to Charleston.

He had a love of flying and once owed his own plane.   He taught himself to play the fiddle as a youngster and through the years he mastered other stringed instruments.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.