Ralph was born in the summer of 1941 to Victor and Geneva Hartman in Tipton, Missouri. His family owned a farm, and Ralph and his two brothers, Kenny and Jerry, grew up working together to make the farm a success. Ralph, like his brothers, developed into a good athlete and played basketball through high school. Ralph also became a fine musician learning to play the trumpet during his high school years.
After graduating, he joined the Army, which would eventually pay his way through college on the GI Bill.
His assignment after boot camp capitalized on his musical talent and led to him serving in the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, a ceremonial division that performs in period dress at national landmarks, ceremonies and parades. While performing with the corps on the grounds of the White House, Ralph learned about and met agents in the US Secret Service, which inspired Ralph to study law enforcement at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. There he met his future wife Barbara while on a double date, though they were both matched up with the other person. They quickly gravitated towards each other and never left one another's side for the next half century.
He and Barbara were married and Ralph was accepted into the Secret Service over the course of a few months in 1969. During the next two decades, this new job led to worldwide travel and working assignments ranging from protective details in the White House to undercover operations against counterfeit printing organizations. After retiring, The family moved permanently to the Kansas City area and Ralph worked for Allied Signal as head of physical security. In his later years, he provided security for Billy and Franklin Graham with other retired Secret Service colleagues.
His home life was (usually) a bit less eventful than his working life, though in raising two strong-willed boys, he used his law enforcement skills occasionally to investigate their disagreements. In raising his sons, he was buoyant and even keeled, never raising his voice except in happiness. Ralph looked for humor in life and was always quick with a clever saying, though he spoke loudest and most fervently through his actions. If he invited you into his wood shop to show you his latest project or better yet made something for you, well, you knew you were in Ralph’s inner circle. His proudest woodworking achievement was building all the furniture, cabinetry and moulding in the final house where he lived until his passing.
Ralph was preceded in death by his wife Barbara. He is survived by his brothers Kenny and Jerry and his sons, Rhett and Travis.
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