Ralph Spitzer

Ralph Paul Spitzer, (88) died November 15,2003 at Bethany Good Samaritan Village, Brainerd, MN. He was born September 24,1915 in New York City, NY to Otto &: Elizabeth (Lehmann) Spitzer. He was educated in NY and served as a Chief in the Navy during WWII serving in Atlantic, Pacific &: Mediteranean. He had the distinction of seeing Charles Lindberg's take off from Roosevelt Field on his historic flight across the Atlantic to Paris in 1927. He was at Asbury Park, NJ in 1934 when the ship Morrow Castle burned off-shore. In addition, he also witnessed the crash of the Hindenberg blimp in Lakehurst, New Jersey in 1937. He was an engineer and worked for Helena Rubenstein &: Eli Lily Companies in NY. After moving to California, he was a civil service employee for the US Postal Service retiring in 1981. Ralph was a member of the NAFRE, Loyal Order of Moose, VFW #2039, First Christian Church & SIR's of Paradise, CA. Ralph was a Past Governor, Past District President of California-Nevada & Past Legion President of the Loyal Order of Moose. His proudest achievement was that of receiving his Merit of Pilgrim Degree from the Loyal Order of Moose in 1998. His Moose membership was transferred from the Paradise CA Lodge to the Brainerd Lodge in November of 2002.
Survivors include a daughter Pam, California, step-daughter Gigi (Ross) Sullivan, Brainerd, step-son James Arrington, Santa Rosa, CA, special niece Billie (Jim)Trembly of Rush, CO. Grandchildren, Lori Bottenfield, Chanhassen, MN, Roy (Barbara) Spitzer, Heidi (John) Markar, NY, Jack Arrington, Lori & Paula Wilson, Santa Rosa, CA, John, Michael, Daniel, David & Christina Spitzer all of NY; Daughter-in-law Felicia McCauley, NY; sister-in-law Nancy Spitzer, CA; Great grandchildren, Dustin Ross Oldenburg, Blair, Bailey &: Brieann Bottenfield all of Chanhassen, MN, Vincent, John & Rachel Spitzer, NY and Lauren Markar, NY. He was preceded in death by wife Billie, son Roy Spitzer, NY, his parents, and brother Henry of CA

A memorial service will be held at Bethany Good Samaritan Chapel, 804 Wright St, Brainerd, MN on Thursday, November 20th at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Lilja Behr officiating. Funeral & burial will be in CA at a later date. Please direct memorials to Bethany Good Samaritan Auxiliary or H.A.R.T.

Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself...it's what you do for others...

Many thanks to the staff and Ralph's family at Bethany Good Samaritan Village for all their loving care.