Ralph L Bassett, Sr.
August 31, 2015Share using:
Ralph Leroy Bassett, Sr. of Felton, DE passed away on Monday, August 31, 2015 at Bayhealth Medical Center in Dover, DE of natural causes. He was 92 years old.
Ralph was born in Lockport, IL on March 24, 1923 to Bernice (Manker) Bassett and Edward Bassett. Ralph spent his formative years, along with his two brothers Ray Bassett and Jim Bassett, in Lockport, IL and Grand Rapids, MI. At the age of 13, Ralph moved with his family, by way of their Model T, to Philadelphia, PA where his father had taken a job as a welder in the Philadelphia Naval Yard (Ralph was very proud of the fact that his father helped build the battleship New Jersey).
As a young adult, Ralph settled in the Cherry Hill, NJ area with his wife, and love of his life, Ethel (Tharp) Bassett. Together they raised two wonderful sons, Robert J. Bassett, Sr. and Ralph L. Bassett, Jr., and enjoyed many years with their family in New Jersey.
After retiring from being a truck driver in the early 1970’s, Ralph and Ethel relocated to Sandtown, DE where they happily lived together until Ethel’s passing in 2009. Ralph and Ethel were married for 66 years.
As a young man, Ralph loved playing his accordion and working on cars. Later in life, Ralph loved caring for his garden and lawn, which he continued to do into his 90’s, and taking care of cats that seemed to find their way to his home.
Ralph is predeceased in death by his parents (Edward Bassett and Bernice Bassett), his two brothers (Ray Bassett and Jim Bassett), and his wife (Ethel Bassett). He is survived by his son Robert and his wife Vivian Bassett of Lewes, DE; his son Ralph and his wife Denise Bassett of Stratford, NJ; nine grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be 1:00 P.M. Sunday September 6, 2015 at the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, DE 19934 where there will be a viewing from Noon to 1:00 P.M. Sunday. The burial will take place at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Sandtown, DE following the funeral service. Online condolences may be made via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.
