Ralph’s Obituary My brother Ralph Franklin Compton Jr., age 64, got on a fast motorcycle today, May 2, 2019 and hightailed it to heaven. His exit wasn’t really on a motorcycle, but I can imagine that it was. He died in his sleep this morning, during this most beautiful Easter season.
A Funeral Service will be held 12 PM Monday, May 6, 2019 at Allen Funeral Home, 9136 Davison Rd. , Davison. Cremation will follow the service.
Visitation will be 4-7 PM Sunday and 11 AM-12 PM Monday. A Rosary will be prayed at 5 PM Sunday followed by a time of sharing. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Old Newsboys of Flint.
Ralph was born on June 18, 1954 to Ralph and Phrona Compton in Flint, Michigan. Phrona had him on Saturday and the next day was Father’s Day. Mom said Little Ralph was a fitting gift to my Dad, Ralph, Sr. Ralph would grow up watching Roy Rogers and Dale Evans on black and white TV.
He loved to go deer hunting with my Dad up in the Pinconning and Rhodes area. Later he would go to Glennie, Michigan to deer hunt with his father-in-law, Joe. Him and my sister Denise used to go to Houghton Lake and stay with my Aunt Eileen and Uncle Bob.
Of course, there were boat rides, lots of fishing and campfires. Ralph loved to terrorize us younger kids and we terrorized him back! !
Ralph graduated from Kearsley High School in 1972. Growing up he liked fast cars, pretty girls and rock and roll. He met and married a pretty girl named Jennifer Stephen on September 5, 1980.
Ralph went to work every day at Fisher Coldwater Road (the old Ternstedt plant) and retired out of SPO Swartz Creek. I think Ralph coined the phrase, “Shop Rat! ” I don’t know though….
. When Ralph put the kickstand down on the motorcycle, he started collecting and riding tractors. He was a member and past President of Mid-Michigan Antique Machinery Association (MAMA) based in Clio, MI.
He tooled around tractor shows going up to West Branch, Oakley and other cities with his “hit and miss” engine. If you can call them that, Jenny and Ralph were THE “Master Beaners” at the annual tractor show in Clio. Their bean soup is some of the best I’ve ever had.
They served soup to hundreds of people during the tractor shows. Really, I think Jenny cooked and Ralph ran around the grounds on a John Deer Gator. Ralph was a prolific reader, a hunter, a gardener, a mechanic, and a great, awesomely great storyteller.
He would come to our houses with a load of tomatoes or cabbage or cauliflower or corn. He’d laugh because he would leave so much food at the house. What was one to do with it all?
Ralph could tell you a story about a tractor on the lot at any show; any make any model. I loved to sit beside him in the car going up north. He was a wealth of information, good with directions and good as a wingman.
He would buy tons of lottery tickets for us at Christmas time. I think one time and one time only, one of us won 10 bucks. He loved animals.
He was even the Santa Claus at Pet Smart. Lots of pictures of Ralph and dogs were taken at Christmas time. I tell you God would not separate us like this, so here are the ones Ralph loved that will surely see him some day.
Wife, Jenny Compton, His treasured dog, Roxanne, Dad, Ralph Compton Sr. Four siblings; Denise Daniel (David Smith), Roberta Compton, Malinda Burnash (Duane), Perry Compton (Michael Freeman). Close cousins: Cindy, Doug and Joann. Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Jenny’s family; Stepdaughter, Tracy (Chris) Holt, Stepson, Tony (Angie) Yount, Grandchildren: Danyelle, Devin, Tyler and Jenna. Jenny’s siblings: Rod Stephen (Stepheny), Ted Stephen (Kim), Brenda Walter (Jim), Brad Stephen (Vicki), and Jeff Stephen. Friends: Mac Cheney, Jeff and Laurie Knickerbocker (the veggies were from you guys, right?
). All the wonderful people at MAMA. As my sister Denise would say, these are the people in his receiving line in heaven: Our dear Mother Phrona Compton, Jenny’s adored Mother and Dad, Juanita and Joe Stephen, Ryan Stephen, Jerry Hause, Aunts, Uncles, Friends, Grandparents, Sinners and saints.
And…. not least but last sitting on the rainbow bridge, Idgie, a dear Pomeranian pup. He’d say, he had a wonderful life.
Thank you to all that made it so. Please share your thoughts with the family at www. allenfuneralhomeinc.com.
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