Ralph E. Reiger

Ralph Edward Reiger passed away July 2, 2010, in Oklahoma City. He was 88 years old, born on January 28, 1922, in Morton, Illinois. At the age of 6, he moved to Oklahoma City, where he attended Shields Heights Elementary School. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School, where he was on the wrestling team and played clarinet in the marching band. After graduating high school, he briefly worked digging ditches in Illinois, before starting college at the University of Oklahoma. At the beginning of World War II, he volunteered for the Army Air Force and became a fighter pilot, flying P-38s, P-47s and P-51s. He affectionately named his plane “Lil’ Okie”. He flew 105 combat missions over Germany, and achieved the rank of Captain. His squadron was the first Air Force unit to be based in mainland Europe after D-Day. They were about a thousand yards from enemy lines. They were also the first Air unit to arrive in Paris a few days after the Nazis left.

In 1947 he married Betty Claire Neill, of Lindsay, Oklahoma. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma and then earned a Masters Degree from the University of Florida. In 1952 he took a job with the Oklahoma City office of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, where he became the top producer, sales manager and a full vice-president. In 1978 he retired from Merrill Lynch, and immersed himself in a new passion, the development of a tree farm near Guthrie, OK. By the mid-1980’s he had donated thousands of trees to the greater Oklahoma City area. At his tree farm, he invented the Root Control Bag, a technology of tree root pruning and transplanting. He received seven US Patents for his work, and was known nationally for his enterprising methods of plant growing and transplanting. Ralph was admired and respected for his integrity, personal strength, and compassion for others. He will be greatly missed.

Ralph is survived by his wife Claire of 62 years; daughter Becky Foree & husband Carter, sons Chris Reiger & wife Randa, Kurt Reiger & wife Cristi; seven grandchildren, Daniel Reagan & wife Heather, Laura Laporte & husband Ricardo, August & Laithe Reiger, Hallie, Elliott & Bertie Reiger; four great-grandchildren, Daniela, Alex, & Juliette Laporte, and Eli Reagan.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Brill Chapel in Epworth Villa Retirement Center.

Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.