Ralph I am so very sorry.  I just learned you left this world for a heavenly return to your Dear Lord and all of the angels in Heaven💕
I am having a difficult time with this  news because I always felt you would always be here! My heart is breaking but I am sure you are with your beloved son and you are both watching over us all!
Jayne I know you must be in deep mourning for Ralph and that you are missing him and his comfort tremendously! Please know that my heart and prayers are with you and for his remaining family and friends. This is just so tragic. My heart goes out to all! 
 Marie Watkins McInerney

My condolences to Jayne and those closest to Ralph.  I worked with him at Horace Mann many years ago.  Hard working and quick witted, he could always make us laugh.  May he rest in peace in his heavenly home.

Friend and colleague
I lost my dear friend, Ralph Goodwin . Ralph and I worked together at Horace Mann.  After he retired in 2008-09 he worked with me taking care of my house.  He was an irascible ,sarcastic , funny talented man who could fix anything!!  I will miss him very much!   Jayne and Ralph  quickly became part of our family.

Friend and Colleague
I lost my dear friend, Ralph Goodwin . Ralph and I worked together at Horace Mann on many projects.  After he retired in 2008-09 he worked with me taking care of my house.  He was an irascible, sarcastic , funny talented man who could fix anything!!  I will miss him very much!   Jayne and Ralph  quickly became part of our family.

I worked with Ralph at Horace Mann, and I will remember him for his sense of humor and his storytelling ability. He had a gift for making people around him smile.  I know that he will be missed but he won't soon be forgotten.

Jayne, 
I was so sorry to hear of Ralph’s passing.  I know he will be missed.  My thoughts are with you during this sad time

Linda and I are very sad to hear of Ralph's passing.  We shared a lot of good times with  Ralph and Jane when we were young families coming to the Midwest from the Philadelphia area to work for Horace Mann. Our sincere condolences to Jane.

Skip Updegrove

Ralph was my neighbor for many years. We often would stand on his front yard and discuss the “issues” of the day. A kind man who shared his talents on the soccer field, in the neighborhood, and of course his Church. Ralph often shared  proceeds from his garden and would donate to the local food pantry. A Godly man who has touch the lives of many. I will miss him and Jane you have been blessed to have Ralph as your husband.   Bob Griffith

I worked at Ralph for 33 years; during that time, I count Ralph as one of my most favorite colleagues.  He was smart and so willing to share his knowledge. One Saturday morning 35+ years ago, I heard a voice from the soccer fields behind my house.  "I know that voice!" I thought. Sure enough, it was Ralph.  What a kind, generous man.  I am sorry for your loss.

Ralph was always a wonderful neighbor. He was such a generous person. He and Jayne made life a little easier for my children and me when times were very rough. I missed seeing them after we moved. We were so glad to see Ralph again when our grandchildren played soccer. God now has a wonderful man and referee  in heaven.

Ralph was involved at Clark Griffith baseball when my son played in the mid 90's. You could tell Ralph loved what he did and he was always on top of everything. He ran a great organization. I don't know but maybe he was there when I played in the late 60's. My condolences.

I'm lucky enough to have many wonderful memories with Ralph. He was an amazing boss and friend. It really was like working for my dad.  He always told me I was the daughter he never had. Heartbroken that he is gone. But glad to have another guardian angel watching over me.

For the past 3 years during spring, summer and fall, Ralph was my referee partner on Saturday mornings at the SASA soccer fields.  We always had the oldest kids on the biggest fields.  Usually the third person on our referee team was a teenager, sometimes barely older than our 8th grade players.  I enjoyed my camaraderie with Ralph and was a direct witness to his ability to share his soccer knowledge with these young people.  

Still, when we last refereed together at the end of this past fall, the combined age of our 3-man team was 220-years-old and I was the young one in the trio at 69.   I had never known Ralph’s age until once when we were swapping post-game stories among a half dozen referees, he injected that when his family got their first TV, the only things he remembered watching were Milton Berle and prize fights.  

I knew he was a Viet Nam veteran by the black U.S. Navy cap he always wore to complete his referee uniform.  He once heard me telling one of our young assistants about his veteran standing and he quickly injected that he was in Southeast Asia during the very early years of that conflict.  He shared with me some stories about his time there that were sad, but I never saw Ralph so happy as when a young team coach came to him before a game to point at the cap and say that he also had served in the Navy and needed to thank Ralph for his perilous service abroad.  I recall that our kickoff was delayed a bit until the two had  swapped some stories about the ships they had been on.  

My last opportunity to be with Ralph was October 26, 2024.  We were refereeing tournament games.  It was a cold morning and all 3 of us wore referee jackets.  Ralph always had one that dated back to his days at the Lincoln Heritage Soccer League.  Tom and I have jackets from YMCA Soccer, where Ralph also had refereed with us.  As I run them back through my mind, we managed those games well and I am glad that I have such a positive last image of Ralph Goodwin.

OBITUARY

Ralph Goodwin

February 11, 1943 – February 17, 2025

Bisch & Son Funeral Home

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