Ralph Fearon

Ralph Lester Fearon

May 4, 1935 – March 16, 2025

“Shirl” was the best life partner I could have. Thank you, Hon! We have been blessed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Life together has been a great experience!”

Ralph, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, uncle, brother-in-law and friend to many entered into eternity on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Ralph was 89 years old.

Early Life & Education

Born on May 4, 1935, to Lester Eldred Fearon and Verlie Geraldine Fearon, Ralph grew up in Methuen, Massachusetts. He graduated from Searles High School, where he played the trumpet in both the marching band and a dance band named “Ronnie Rembis and His Rhythm Kings.”

Before college, he attended Tilton Prep, earning a varsity letter in skiing and tennis while continuing to play his trumpet at social events. He was a member of the Outing Club and spent weekends hiking the White Mountains.

Ralph attended the University of New Hampshire in 1953, where he became a Brother in Acacia Fraternity, completed two years of Army R.O.T.C., and graduated in 1957 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He believed his career choice offered the perfect balance of office work and outside fieldwork. During his last two college summers, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service, surveying logging roads in the White Mountain National Forest.

It was also during college that he met his future wife, Shirley Ann Murray, on a blind date.

Military Service & Marriage

After graduation, Ralph served in the Army in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and Lebanon. He was granted a 10-day leave to marry Shirley Ann Murray on December 21, 1958, at the Old South Church of Andover, Massachusetts. The couple returned to Germany, where Shirley worked as a civilian surgical nurse in a MASH unit. While there, they traveled 27,000 miles throughout Europe in a 1958 Volkswagen Bug, missing only Spain and Portugal. During this time, they welcomed their first child, Kirsten Lynn.

Professional Career

Following his military service, Ralph began his career with a survey crew for new highways. In 1960, he was hired by Western Electric to establish a new product line in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Ralph dedicated 34 years to Western Electric (AT&T), retiring in July 1994. He worked as a Planning Engineer, Engineer, Senior Engineer, and Engineering Department Chief. He earned a patent for a molded plastic bobbin and was honored as “Engineer of the Year” by his peers. In 1966, he received his MBA from the University of Missouri and a highlight of his career was supervising the production of mercury relays for semiconductors, managing a team of 33 engineers.

Family & Personal Life

Ralph and Shirley had three children: Kirsten Lynn, Donald Lester, and Bruce Edward. He took pride in their accomplishments, especially ensuring they had the opportunity to pursue higher education, with all receiving college degrees and Bruce earning his Medical Degree (M.D.).

At 59, Ralph and Shirley retired and traveled to 49 of the 50 states, only missing Alaska. He loved road trips, particularly in his Lincoln Town Cars, and spent winters in Florida, with friends and family visiting.

One of Ralph’s greatest joys was power boating, totaling 51 years between 2 boats. Weekends were spent teaching his children and many neighbors how to waterski. What started as camping in a tent at Pomme de Terre Lake evolved into more than 30 years of making memories at their Summer Haven condo on Lake of the Ozarks. His 25-foot Regal boat was bought on an impulse in 1983, when he planned on buying just a boat hook. Ralph said it was “the best snap decision Shirl and I ever made.”

Ralph spent 45 years raising his family in Raytown, Missouri, before moving to Lee’s Summit nearer to his sons in Longview Farms. He described the decision to buy their home in Sienna as “the second-best quick decision we made.”

Community Involvement

Ralph was actively involved in his community, holding leadership positions in numerous organizations, including:

• Masonic Member for 60 years
• Sunday School Teacher
• President of the Raytown Republican Club
• President of the Raytown Rotary Club
• President of the Western Electric Retiree Pioneer Club
• Member of the Raytown Mayor’s Advisory Board
• Member of the Greater Kansas City YMCA Board of Directors

Legacy & Remembrance

Ralph is survived by his best friend and wife of 67 years, Shirley; their three children, Kirsten (David Sneid), Don (Paula), and Bruce (Kathleen); six grandchildren, Ian & Evan Sneid, Cody, Sam, Chase, and Delaney; and two great-grandchildren, Lyla and Cash Fearon, with another great-granddaughter, Ryann, expected in April.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Verlie Fearon.

In Ralph’s words how he wishes to be remembered:

“Family man, steady worker, enjoyed travel in Europe as a military man and in the states as a civilian, loved power-boating, Acacia Fraternity, Free Mason, Rotary, 1957 Graduate of Univ. of New Hampshire with B.S. Civil Engineering, 1966 MBA at Univ. of Missouri, “never failed a course, but came close”.

Burial

Ralph was laid to rest at a private graveside gathering with immediate family on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Longview Funeral Home & Cemetery. 12700 S.E. Raytown Road, KCMO 64149

Celebration of Life

Please join us and honor Ralph on May 4, 2025 for a Celebration of His Life. It will be a great reunion and celebration! This would have been his 90th birthday.

Date: May 4

Time: 1-4 PM

Location:

Centerview Event Center

Raymore Parks & Recreation, 227 Municipal Circle Raymore, MO 64083

(816) 322-2791

Small sandwiches, “finger” foods, beverages, beer & wine will be provided.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 30th if you’re coming, and provide headcount to: Don Fearon - Dfearon61@gmail.com