Ralph, age 87, died peacefully on July 13, 2022, in Orange City, Florida. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jean (Wilson) Hord; by their son, Douglas; by their daughter-in-law, Caroline (Base) Hord; and by grandchildren, Jennifer Mabie and her husband Chris; Shannon Reintgen and her husband Christian; and Brandon Hord. Great-grandchildren include Carter Mabie, Cole Mabie and Landon Reintgen.

He is preceded in death by their son Steven (husband of Caroline) and their daughter-in-law Alberta (Pfingsten) Hord (wife of Douglas).

Ralph was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Orville & Mildred (Allen) Hord. He was the second of three children. His older sister, Roxine Rosengren, and her husband Arthur, are both deceased. His younger sister, Laura Lucks is also deceased, but she is survived by her husband Bill.

After serving in the Marine Corps from 1954-57, he graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. In September, 1956, he married Jean Wilson, who was the love of his life.

After the Marines, he had a long career at the McDonnell Aircraft Company in St. Louis (later known as McDonnell Douglas Corporation, and now part of the Boeing Corporation.) After starting out as an Electronics Technician, he moved into management for the last twenty years of his career, retiring as the Manager of Production Technology for Test Equipment Design & Development after 34 years with the company.

Although he was raised in a Christian home and baptized as a child, it was not until 1967 that he came to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He later served in the Presbyterian Church as a Deacon, Elder, Bible teacher, Evangelist, and lay-preacher. Ralph and Jean were active in Presbyterian Mariners, an organization for couples and families. They served as local, regional, and national Skipper (President), and became interested in serving as mission volunteers because Mariners sponsored short-term mission teams. When Ralph retired at age 55, they pursued this interest, serving first in Sitka, Alaska, then in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as fulltime Presbyterian Mission Volunteers.

They served as volunteers with Wycliffe Bible Translators in High Wickham, England. and then went to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to serve a year or two with Literacy & Evangelism International. They ended up serving there for more than 20 years.

Active at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian while living in Tulsa, Ralph served on nine short-term mission teams from the church, working in North and South America, Europe and Africa.

In his younger years he enjoyed playing golf until after his fourth spinal surgery, when he had to give up the game. He still enjoyed watching it on TV. Another hobby he enjoyed was Duplicate Bridge. He played locally and in regional and national tournaments, eventually earning a Life Master rating. Later he became a Certified Game Director for the American Contract Bridge League, and for a number of years he led a Duplicate Bridge Club at McDonnell Douglas.

In general, he enjoyed games and puzzles of all sorts, even to writing a “Christian Cipher” puzzle for a weekly Tulsa newspaper, the Tulsa Beacon. A Graveside service was held July 22, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US-1, Mims, Fl 32754.

A service celebrating Ralph’s life was held July 22, 2022 at 2 p.m. at his final church home, River City Church EPC in DeBary, FL. In remembrance, Ralph asked that you consider donations to Literacy & Evangelism International (located in Tulsa, OK) or to River City Church.