Ralph Caldwell, 62, of Fitzgerald, died Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Saturday, March 23, 2013, at Arbor Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Lloyd Stembridge officiating. Private interment will be held at a later date. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Friday evening at Arbor Baptist Church, 1137 N Merrimac Drive Extension, Fitzgerald.
One of eleven children, Mr. Caldwell was born July 2, 1950 in Curwensville, Pennsylvania to the late Daniel Elliott and Maude Wall Caldwell. A graduate of Cortland High School in Cortland, New York, Mr. Caldwell had a passion for education. He was graduated from Arizona Christian University, formerly Southwestern Conservative Baptist Bible College, with a Bachelors Degree in Theology and later a Bachelors Degree in Education. He received his Masters Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Phoenix. A former student of the Practical Bible Training School, he also attended Christian Missionary Aviation School and was a licensed private pilot.
Mr. Caldwell loved teaching and had served as an educator in schools in Arizona and Florida for elementary and middle schools where he also coached soccer. Since 2004, Mr. Caldwell called Fitzgerald home. He was currently teaching at Ben Hill Middle School and had coached softball for Fitzgerald High School. A member of Arbor Baptist Church, Mr. Caldwell was a deacon and a part of the Men’s Ministry. He was an integral part of Imagine Ministries and enjoyed raising money and completing home repair projects for this local mission. His specialty was building wheelchair ramps. Mr. Caldwell was a part of several mission trips to Arizona and Mexico where he would teach children along the border. He was happiest when ministering to the Navajo people on their reservation.
Mr. Caldwell had a heart for the Lord and loved his family. He was a giver, buying shoes and clothes for his students who could not afford them and providing baby items to young mothers for their children. Mr. Caldwell often times repaired vehicles for no charge to those in need. He also cared greatly for his fellow man having just been medically cleared to donate a kidney to a brother in Christ.
Mr. Caldwell is survived by his wife: Priscilla Caldwell of Fitzgerald; three daughters: Angela & Mike Booth of Fitzgerald, Michelle & David Cremer of Glendale, Arizona, and Jonell Caldwell of Brazil; five grandchildren: Maddie Booth, Noah Booth, Alex Cremer, Liam Cremer, and Sam Caldwell; brothers and sisters: Dottie & Mike Christian of Newport News, Virginia, Betty Oliver of Vestal, New York, Richard & Peggy Caldwell of Keystone Heights, Florida, Nancy Grzebin of Newport News, Virginia, Joy & Warren Darragh of Whitney Point, New York, Ken & Ester Caldwell of Cortland, New York, Melody & Donnie Barrow of Lisle, New York, Dale & Diane Caldwell of Utah, and Amy & Phil Hosey of Malabar, Florida; his mother-in-law: Madeline Denelsbeck of Fitzgerald; as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother: David Caldwell.
To continue his legacy of service, the family respectfully requests that flowers be omitted and instead donations be given in memory of Ralph to Imagine Ministries, P.O. Box 428, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.