Ralph William Ratta

Ralph Ratta, 80, passed away on September 13, 2024. He was doing what he loved – driving his 1980 MGB.

 A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Oakwood Cemetery. The Reverend Mary Alice Lyman will officiate.

 Ralph was born in Burlington, Vermont and grew up in Essex Junction, Vermont. He was the oldest of six children. After graduating from high school in 1963, he attended Champlain College and the University of Vermont where he received a bachelor’s degree; later, he received a master’s degree from San Diego State. He served in Vietnam with the Vermont National Guard. He was a software consultant for most of his working life traveling all over the US, Canada, Mexico and Japan, adapting to each client’s environment and using his generous and helpful attitude to help his clients succeed.

 Ralph was a man of many hobbies, all of which he did well. He and a friend paid $50 for their first car, and he was hooked on anything mechanical. He raced motorcycles, dabbled in rodeos, played cowboy polo, built RC planes and helicopters, built an experimental airplane that he flew to locations up and down the west coast to play golf. From his teens he was involved in Amateur Radio, knew Morse Code and made HAM radio a lifelong hobby through which he made many good friends – some of whom he never met; they will now know him as a silent key. These past 13 years, he thoroughly enjoyed restoring MGB cars. Not one to do the ordinary, he put a V8 in his and enjoyed going to MG and British car shows from San Diego to Key West to Atlantic City. He loved problem-solving and helping people and became a board member of the Texas MG Register. His friends there will truly miss his knowledge, willingness to help and his giving soul.

 Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Everett Ratta; and his granddaughter, Jessica Blanck.

 Ralph is survived by his wife of 16 years, Fay Trippet Ratta of China Spring; his daughter, Julie Blanck and husband Rob of Lyons, Oregon. He has two granddaughters – Sarah Blanck of Gresham, Oregon and Bekah Saelee with husband Michael of Salem, Oregon and 2 great-grandchildren, Emelia and Nai Saelee. He has 2 stepdaughters, Elizabeth “Betsy” Swann and husband Jason Leubner of Seattle, Washington and Alice Troberman and husband Toby Troberman of Dripping Springs, as well as 3 step-grandchildren, Dossett, Evans and Leni Rose Troberman. Ralph is also survived by all his siblings, Stephen Ratta of Porterville, California, Allen Ratta of Cascade, Montana, Meg Morefield of Henderson, Nevada, Daniel Ratta of Las Vegas, Nevada and Andy Ratta of San Marcos, California.

 Memorials can be made to America’s VetDogs, providing service dogs to Veterans and First Responders.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Ralph on his “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.