Ralph Bacon

Compassionate, loving, hard working – these are just a few of many words that describe Ralph L. Bacon. A man who loved to fish, listen to Broadway musicals, cut his grass, and most of all, spend time with his family, Ralph will be remembered as a man who knew that true joy and happiness come, not from possessions, but from being surrounded by friends and family.

The year 1918 found Europe in an upheaval. While some countries were declaring their independence, other countries were being invaded. This was the First World War. In the United States, while the government kept an eye on these events, ordinary citizens were going about their day to day lives. For Allen and Lena (Eggleston) Bacon, the big event for them was the birth of their first child. On January 18, 1918 in Jackson, Michigan they welcomed the arrival of their first son, Ralph. Ralph was the oldest of what would become a lively family of 7 children.

Allen and Lena moved to North Park when Ralph was very young. It was here that he attended North Park Elementary School and Creston High School. Ralph was a pretty good athlete and ran track. This came in handy when he would have to leave school, run home to get his youngest sister, Ada, take her to kindergarten, and then run back to the high school before he missed too much instruction. However, as many young men did at that time, he left high school to get a job to help support the family. Regular jobs were hard to find so Ralph joined the CCC – the Civilian Conservation Corps. – and worked in Wisconsin planting trees. He later joined the Army National Guard, serving for 2 years. Finally he was able to land a job with the Putnam Candy Company. During this time, he attended a dance where he met a lovely young lady named Marjorie Sweet. Marjorie was there with another gentleman, but this did not stop Ralph. He and Marjorie began talking, got to know each other, and began dating. When Ralph went to call on Marjorie, his pockets were always filled with candy from work. This made him very popular with Marjorie’s 3 brothers and 1 sister. Marjorie was also smitten and on May 7, 1938, the couple was married. The ceremony took place at the home of Rev. Isaac VanWestenburgge, a local minister. Times being what they were, there was no honeymoon.

The newlyweds moved in with Marjorie’s parents for a short while, and then moved to a home in North Park. They finally settled at 4831 Bristol in Comstock Park. The couple never owned their own home, preferring to rent. Ralph, being practical, didn’t see any sense in paying for taxes and insurance when someone else could do it for you. Their new home was a big farmhouse, one they would share the rest of their life together. Now settled, they began to raise their own family. Nancy was born on December 11, 1938, followed by Richard on August 7, 1940, Raymond on November 1, 1941, Ronald on July 8, 1944, Ralph Jr. on January 13, 1947 ( tragically Ralph died as an infant on April 27, 1947), Russell on December 1, 1948 and Virginia on May 30, 1950. The family enjoyed living in the big farm house. They didn’t work the farm but still enjoyed the animals and watching the farm activities.

Ralph began to tire of the candy company and went looking for other employment. For a while he worked for R.C. Allen Co., American Seating Co., even tending bar at the Southern and Plantation Bars. He also worked for the Nehi Beverage Co., and then to the Carlings Black Label Beer Co. as a salesman. This was not the job for Ralph – suits and ties were not his style – so he went back to Nehi where he stayed until his retirement. He liked being outdoors and driving the truck. It gave him a chance to visit all the west side watering holes and meet all the different bartenders. When World War II broke out, Ralph was deffered because of a ruptured eardrum. This prompted him to keep cotton in both ears to protect them and it became a kind of trademark for him. His ears were always stuffed with cotton.

Even though Ralph worked hard to support his family, he also found time to have fun. He and Marjorie enjoyed taking the kids to Hess Lake in the summer. They even took a trip to Greenfield Village. But they especially liked it when Dad took them to the airport to watch the big planes land and take off. He bowled on Friday nights as part of the Carling Black Label bowling league. After bowling, he would stop at the Red Line restaurant, a local “greasy spoon” and pick up some chili dogs – 13 for $1.00. There were always some left over for the kids to eat the next day and this was a big treat for them. Keeping his car looking good was important, and he was always washing it. And if any family members happened to stop by , well, their cars got washed too. Perhaps his favorite thing to do was cut the grass. He could do it for hours. When the family got together and bought him a riding lawn mower, he was delighted. He would mow and mow, often going beyond the yard into the apple orchard. He enjoyed music, Broadway musicals, the Boston Pops , and the Polka Pops every Sunday on the radio. Ralph liked to eat, and was primaily a meat and potatoes man, but also had a taste for polish food, especially kielbasa, meatballs, and kapusta – a dish made with sauerkraut, potatoes and onions. There were, however, foods he didn’t like. Marjorie served horseradish as a side dish one time and Ralph thought it was coleslaw. His big bite was his first and last taste of horseradish. He also tried pizza once but it made him sick.

He and Marjorie enjoyed spending time together. They worked in the yard and tended a vegetable garden. They were members of a casino club where they would socialize. In their younger days they often hosted card parties which were held at different homes, very popular in those days. They visited relatives in California and spent time with friends Jim and Marie Smith at their cottage at Hardy Dam.

In 1987 Ralph’s beloved Marjorie suffered a stroke. Their son Ray lived at home and he and Ralph lovingly cared for her. In 2003 Ralph was diagnosed with dementia, and then came down with pneumonia. This was more than Ray could handle by himself and Ralph entered St. Mary’s Living Center. It was here that he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and attended services every Sunday. While there, his grandson Jay and his wife Rhonda visited every day. Jay even made sure that grandpa's grass got cut, something Ralph missed. Ralph’s health deteriorated and then got better. This went on for several months until his death. His family very much appreciated the loving care provided at St. Mary’s and the wonderful caring guidance extended to them by Hospice.

Ralph L. Bacon of Comstock Park, MI, died Monday, May 24, 2004 at St. Mary’s Living Center. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Ralph L. Bacon Jr., and his two brothers, Paul Bacon and Allen Bacon. His family includes his wife of 66 years, Marjorie (Sweet) Bacon; his children, Nancy and Alvin De Bruine of Grand Rapids, Richard and Jerre Bacon of Florida, Raymond Bacon of Comstock Park, Ronald and Nancy Bacon of Conklin, Russell and Kathy Bacon of Grand Rapids, Virginia and Thomas Dewey of Comstock, Park; 13 grandchildren including his very special grandson Jay and Rhonda De Bruine; 17 great grandchildren; his brothers, Lawrence (Maxine) Bacon, Robert and Marilyn Bacon all of Grand Rapids; his sisters, Ada (Pete) Draugalis, Rose Mol all of Grand Rapids; many nieces, nephews and many friends. The funeral to celebrate Ralph’s life will be held at Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, part of the Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW on Thursday morning at 10:00 AM, with Hospice of Michigan Chaplain, Rev. Steve Shick officiating. Burial will be in Alpine Township Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to meet his family at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 7-9 and on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Please visit Ralph’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory or make a contribution in his memory to Hospice of Michigan.

Ralph was a kind and gentle person who was generous with everyone. His warm smile and wonderful sense of humor made everyone feel at ease. He will be greatly missed.