Ralph Folse Dupuy passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the age of 101 in Baton Rouge surrounded by his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He was born October 24, 1923, in Baton Rouge and graduated from Catholic High School in 1940 before the United States entered World War II. In 1943, at the age of 20 and a student at LSU, Ralph volunteered for the United States Navy and joined the USS Cowpens in early Spring 1945. By August 1945, the Cowpens had the honor of being the first carrier to escort the USS Missouri into Tokyo Bay when Japan formally surrendered to the United States. Upon returning to Baton Rouge, Ralph graduated from LSU in 1948 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked for Ethyl Corporation in General Engineering until his retirement in 1988. A devout Catholic, he was one of the first parishioners of St. Thomas More Catholic Church where he served as a member of the Choir, St. Matthew’s Guild, and Maintenance Committee. He also served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Thomas More Catholic Church as well as Cubmaster of Pack 229. Ralph volunteered and served on the Sherwood Forest Citizens Association Board for many years and was Treasurer from 2005-2017. Ralph is survived by his daughters, Janice Davis, Linda Thomas (Phillip), and Ann Farris (Daniel); his sons, Chip Dupuy (Elaine), Rusty Dupuy (Sherri), and Birnie Dupuy (Linda); his grandchildren, Brian Thomas, Michael Thomas, Maddie Dupuy Frierson (Trent), Lauren Dupuy Daigle, Kate Dupuy Ball (Trenton), Jeanne Dupuy Wilderotter (Eric), Ben Dupuy, Kevin Dupuy, Emily Davis, Elise Farris, Christopher LeBlanc, and Brian LeBlanc (Brittani); his great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Rebekah, and Phillip Thomas, Lillie and Audrey Frierson, Emma and Charlie Daigle, Maddie and Christian Wilderotter, Cohen LeBlanc, and Samuel Ball; his sister, Edna Earle Mattei Nelson, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 71 years, Martha Lockwood Dupuy; his mother, Urline Bourgeois Dupuy Hernandez; his father, Theodore R. Dupuy; his brother, Theodore R. Dupuy, Jr.; his sister, Myrrh D. Amedee; and his son-in-law, Virgil C. Davis, Jr. Visitation will be held Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 noon, celebrated by the Rev. Frank Uter, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Burial to follow in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Pallbearers will be his grandsons: Brian Thomas, Michael Thomas, Ben Dupuy, Kevin Dupuy, Christopher LeBlanc, and Brian LeBlanc. Honorary pallbearers are Trent Frierson, Trenton Ball, Eric Wilderotter, Roy Dupuy, and Karl Finch. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Thomas More Catholic School or Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Greater Baton Rouge. Ralph enjoyed a full and active life. Through the way he lived, he was a role model for all who were blessed to have known him. He was always welcoming, and his greatest joy was getting together with family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all and will continue to live on in our hearts and minds through our cherished memories forever.
