Ralph Patsfall passed away on Friday, August 8, 2014. From humble beginnings, he led a life of great faith, devotion to family and friends, and achievement. He will be remembered for his warm smile, dry wit, dignity and humility. The Lord blessed him with a long and remarkable life. Ralph Earl Patsfall was born on September 9, 1922 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to William and Helen Patsfall. He graduated from Bay View High School in Milwaukee in 1940, and received his Bachelor's Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1944. He joined the Navy and completed training at the Midshipman School of Engineering at the University of Cornell in September of 1944. He served on active duty as the Captain of the U.S.S. YMS 271, a mine sweeper, in the Pacific in 1945 and 1946. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant and continued to serve in the Naval Reserve until 1951 when he was honorably discharged. While in the Naval Reserve he obtained his Master's degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1947, and then a Juris Doctorate from Marquette University Law School in 1949. Before entering law school, Ralph married the love of his life, Patricia Fischer, on May 30, 1947 in Milwaukee. Patricia, the daughter of Joseph and Blanche Fischer, worked to help put Ralph through law school, then gave birth to the first of the couple's five children, Mark, on April 17, 1949. Although Ralph loved the law, engineering was his first calling, and after moving to Cincinnati he joined the General Electric Company, Aircraft Division in 1952 at Evendale as a technical engineer in the Materials and Processes Application Unit. He quickly made his mark at General Electric, selected to supervise the X211 nuclear engine development, followed by appointments of Manager of Material Engineering and the Metal Working Laboratory. Another promotion led him to Lynn, Massachusetts where he was appointed head of the Thompson Engineering Laboratory. Returning to Cincinnati in 1968 he lead numerous advanced manufacturing and process applications in jet engine technology and became Chief Manufacturing Engineer Production Technology in 1982, the position he held until his retirement on October 1, 1988. Ralph was held in high esteem not only within the General Electric Company, but internationally in the industry. He was elected President and Chairman of the Board of the Directors in the National Society of Aerospace Materials and Process Engineers (SAMPE) after serving as Chairman of the Midwest chapter and National Vice President of SAMPE. While at General Electric, Mr. Patsfall was also an inventor. He is the holder of two US patents involving methods of manufacturing for jet engine parts. During GE's Centennial Celebration, he was named to the company's GE 100 Select Group. In 1989 he was elected to the GE Aviation Propulsion Hall of Fame. As Ralph's career grew, so did his family. After Mark followed Michael, Stephen, Christine and Teresa. An avid amateur photographer, while on vacation or at his children's sporting events and activities, he was rarely seen without his large camera (or two) around his neck, making sure all of the family's exploits were well documented. The yearly summer vacation to Wisconsin, kids piled in the back of the wood paneled Oldsmobile station wagon, was always an adventure, if not a treasured memory. A lifelong tennis player, Ralph loved to play tennis with his doubles buddies at the Indian Hill Swim and Tennis Club or at the Camargo Indoor. His Catholic faith was a large part of his life, and who he was. Ralph and Pat joined the St. Gertrude Parish in the early 50's, well over 60 years ago. He held numerous volunteer positions with the church and the St. Vincent DePaul Society. He and Pat cherished their time as members of the "Fun Bunch", a parish organization that truly lived up to its name. For many years after retirement, until he could no longer, Ralph would attend daily Mass faithfully every morning. In retirement, Ft. Myers Beach, Florida became a second home to Ralph and Pat, where they entertained their children and grandchildren as well as friends and relatives for memorable vacations over the years. Ralph quickly developed relationships with the priests at Ascension Parish in Ft. Myers Beach, and became a fixture there in the winter months. He also attended Mass at the Sisters of St. Clare. Ralph's life changed after Pat passed away on August 30, 2007 during their 60th year of marriage. Shortly thereafter he moved to the Terrace at Hyde Park Health Services where he had resided for the past seven years. The nurses and staff there had given him wonderful care and support. There he continued to watch his family grow, keeping track of the activities and achievements of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who visited him often. He will be greatly missed by his sons, Mark (Sarah Young) Patsfall, Michael (Robin) Stroud) Patsfall, and Stephen (Marianna) Patsfall, his daughters, Christine (Ron) Gunn and Teresa Patsfall, his grandchildren Anna, Alexandra, Noah, Nathanial, Ryan, Eden, Erin, Tricia, Stephen and Matthew, and his great-grandchildren, Izaak, and Cecelia. Memorials may be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 1125 Bank St., Cinti 45214.

Service

Thursday, August 14, 2014 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM St. Gertrude Church Parish Center 7630 Shawnee Run Road Cincinnati 45243, United States

Service

Thursday, August 14, 2014 9:30 AM St Gertrude Church 8221 Miami Avenue Cincinnati 45243, United States