Large Scale Central

WE LOST A FRIEND

General Discussion
#1

July 31, 2011 - This morning around 9 AM, Ralph Dipple passed away after a 20 year battle with cancer. Ralph was a cheerful fellow, a good friend, and always willing to help. He enjoyed model trains in many different scales and was a member of both the Ottawa Valley Garden Railway Society and the Ottawa Associated Model Railroaders where he served as Treasurer for a number of years. Here he is shown working on a JigStones building for the IPP&W Railway, home of the OVGRS.

He also served as the Yardmaster in Firgrove, which has been renamed Dipple Yard in his honour.

We are going to miss him, but at last he is at peace.

#2

So sorry to hear the news, Paul.
Thank you for letting us know.
My thoughts and Prayers are with his family and the OVGRS.
Ralph

#3

So sorry to hear. It’s such a loss. Ralph was a nice gentle man. Here he is with Jean back in 2007. It’s the happy times that we will remember.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/_forumfiles/IMG_2153.JPG)

He gave me a set of decals for one of the boxcars I built. I will remember him every time I operate.

(http://jbrr.com/assets/images/IMG_8737w.JPG)

We had a lot of good conversations together.

#4

My condolences to the family

#5

Our condolences, Paul.

His humor and cheerful spirit will be missed.

It was a pleasure to know him.

#6

Condolences and prayers for any family and his friends at OVGRS. Paul mentions his 20 year battle: I am convinced that his love of the railroading hobby and his friends in the hobby made that long period of time more tolerable and enjoyable.

When I arrive, where he has now gone, I will look him up: I am sure he will have a railroad there.

#7

From the information we heard at the Invasion, I guess I expected this notice. It is still hard to accept. A good friend, he will be missed. May he rest in peace without pain.

#8

Read the news last night, from an email from Fred… Was so sorry to see a friend pass… Ralph was always a cheerful guy, always had a laugh and a smile for anyone… I hope you all will express my sincere condolances to his family… As Stan said, it was truely a pleasure just to know him…

#9

Sorry to hear this. I’ll echo everything everyone has said. Great guy. :frowning:

#10

Paul will be missed by many , I had the good luck to have met him in Illinois at RLD Hobbies with some other train guys , for some tradeing and laughs .
Our condolences to the family .

#11

My condolences to the family.

#12

I believe it was Ralph I spend some time chatting with at York,. Nice fellow. My condolences to his friends and family.

#13

I had the pleasure to spend time with Ralph several times at the IPP&W and again this spring in York. He will be missed. Here’s Ralph, the smiling face at left, receiving a sermon from Ric on the benefits of Rumski’s…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/RicSki-640.jpg)

#14

I don’t know about rum, but I do know the retired pastor did enjoy the occasional scotch.

Thanks for the additional pictures. The smiles in them do reflect his pleasant personality.

Doug Matheson replied to my e-mail with the following message.

I will always remember the many trips Ralph and I took together … his good sense of humour and his easy going nature made him a great guy to travel with. In particular I remember a trip we made to visit Ric Golding - during that visit Ralph and I made a side trip to visit his alma mater, Concordia Seminary in St Louis. We spoke with the head (dean or rector?) of the seminary, discussed “call day” where young ministers receive their first parish and attended the morning service together. Ralph regaled me with tales of his own days at the seminary and of his many assignments to various parishes since. In all, Pembroke was his favourite and he and his parishioners there had a special bond.

Paul and I visited Ralph in the hospital a short time ago. Though his health was failing we spent an hour talking about trains - it was great to see the smile on his face.

A special man with a special place in heaven

#15

My condolences

#16

I first met Ralph at the 2007 American Invasion. We always enjoyed seeing each other. He was my meal mate on my right at the restaurant, Les Filles Du Roy, we ate at in Montreal. Here is my set of pics that include Ralph from 2007:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vL_ueOXLW00/TjZzbdnjjRI/AAAAAAAAC-U/JkGXxNgFAmc/s144/IMG_2982.jpg)

from: https://picasaweb.google.com/vtgrsociety/RalphDippel2007AmericanInvasion?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKqP5rSK087lxwE&feat=directlink 2009 American Invasion:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vcA6eFedbY0/TjaKExvFpeI/AAAAAAAAC94/m8dO_BDM1xU/s144/IMG_0647.JPG)

from: https://picasaweb.google.com/vtgrsociety/RalphDippelAmericanInvasion2009?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIqpwqO0namWtQE&feat=directlink I missed my chats with him this year :frowning:

#17

Here is Ralph at ECLSTS this Spring with David Hill.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/York2011018M.JPG)

#18

Thanks…I thought I met him this spring but wasn’t sure…

#19

I also got the email from Paul. Unfortunately I was on the road when it arrived and just found out about it. Deeply saddened, to say the least. I always enjoyed talking with Ralph, I’m thankful I had the opportunity one last time at the EC show. He was missed at the Invasion, and I was sorry to hear about his poor health, so this was not too much of a surprise. I think we are all better people for having known the man. From 2010:

(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Invasion%202010/freds2010001.jpg)

#20

Bless.

tac