Dudley - Ralph L. Malboeuf, 88, died Sunday, February 28, 2016, peacefully at home after bravely battling Alzheimer’s.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Carole M. (Cormier) Malboeuf; four loving children – one daughter, Susan (Duval) and her husband Raymond; three sons, Ralph and his wife Diane, John and his wife Marigrayce, and Thomas and his wife Carolann; his 12 grandchildren, Jonathan, Allyson, Carolyn, Alicia and her husband Nick, Lindsey and her husband Brett, Marissa, Kathryn, Elizabeth, Tyler, Joshua, Hunter, and Madison, who were all proud and grateful to have had him for a grandfather. He also leaves several nieces, including Ellen Gevry who thought of him as a brother, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Ralph was born in Webster, MA to the late Alfred and Ellen (O’Neill) and was the youngest of 7 children. He graduated from Bartlett High School, Class of 1945, and was employed by the Desco Shoe Company before he enlisted to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. While serving from 1948 - 1952, he was responsible for maintaining electrical and instrument equipment in fighter, bomber, transport and other military aircraft. He received extensive training at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL and was assigned to Patrol Squadron 51 VP-51. From there he was stationed at U.S. Naval Air Stations in Brooklyn, NY, San Diego, CA, and Alameda, CA during his time of service. Upon returning home to Webster, he began working for the Massachusetts Electric Company in Worcester as a salesperson and there met the love of his life, Carole. They married and settled in Dudley where he raised his family and continued working for Massachusetts Electric in various management capacities for a total of 41 years, retiring in 1993.
Whether you knew him as Ralph, Dad, Papa, Uncle Ralph, Mal, or Mr. Malboeuf, you knew he was a gentleman, always and foremost. He was a loving family man who put his wife’s, children’s, and grandchildren’s best interests first. He had a strong faith, with a devotion to God and country. He served in the U.S. Navy proudly, and was a member of the Webster-Dudley American Legion Post 184. He supported the building of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Dudley, where he attended mass, was a long-time lector, and ran bingo with his wife for many years.
He was an avid golfer, having belonged to the Dudley Hill Golf Club for most of his life up until the summer of 2014. He served on the board of directors and spent many wonderful afternoons playing on the links with his brother Ted, his golf buddies, sons, and grandsons. He also bowled for many years on teams at the Mohegan Bowling Alley in Webster and was an expert card player. He was an overall sports enthusiast, having coached his sons’ little league teams and cheered not only his own children through all their sports endeavors, but his grandchildren too. He was a loyal fan of the Boston sports teams, especially the Boston Red Sox. He vacationed in Florida in the winter with Carole where they loved attending spring training games, and even celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their entire family at Fenway Park. He was a patron of the arts in his own way, attending concerts, plays and recitals if they featured his children or grandchildren. He was also a life-long member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.
Dad was there for the family births, illnesses, graduations, birthdays, weddings, housewarmings, and holidays. He was always there to support us through the ups and downs of our lives. Our family has been lucky to have had much to celebrate, and to have had Dad with us to share in those celebrations. Now we gather to celebrate him and his meaningful life. We were blessed to know him and to love him.
He will be missed and remembered daily. Most importantly, he will be loved always, and his love will live on in his family.
Many thanks to the kind people from VNA of Southern Worcester County, Central MA Hospice, Tri-Valley Elder Services, Webster Manor, and Heritage Home Health Care, who cared for him over the past year and a half – especially Alicen Scott and Beckie Farren, who have truly been his guardian angels.
The funeral will be held Friday, March 4 from Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 E. Main St., Webster, with a mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 24 Dudley Hill Rd., Dudley. Burial will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Webster. The Webster-Dudley Veteran’s Council will provide the military honors. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 3 in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either the Alzheimer's Association, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, or St. Anthony of Padua Church, PO Box 277, Dudley, MA 01571.