Ascutney, VT – Ralph W. Whipple died Wednesday June 4, 2025, his 89th birthday, at Lebanon Center Genesis Eldercare.

He was born June 4, 1936, in Windsor, VT a son of Winfred I. and Mable E. (Shannon) Whipple. Ralph spent his early years in Chelsea, VT where he graduated from high school before enlisting in the US Navy. He served in the Navy, where he received training as a dental hygienist, from 1957 until his honorable discharge in 1961. Following his military service, he lived in the Burlington area and began a career at IBM where he worked for over 25 years, taking an early retirement in 1987. During his retirement he enjoyed collecting antiques at auctions and yard sales and reselling them. He lived for a time in Graniteville, VT before moving to Walla Walla, WA for several years. He returned to Vermont, settling in Chelsea to be near his brother and later moved to Windsor where he had lived since.

In addition to collecting antiques, Ralph loved animals, including morgan horses and his beloved dogs, most recently his Papillon Kelsey and Pomeranian Wiggles. Ralph also enjoyed history, particularly his family's history, and kept in close contact with many distant relatives.

He was predeceased by a brother Shannon Whipple and a sister Lois Ackerman.

Ralph leaves his sisters Ruth W. Turgeon of West Lebanon, NH, Barbara W. May of Tulsa, OK; sister-in-law Nyra E. Whipple of Chelsea, VT; half-sister, Phyliss Chrosniak of Cheektowaga, NY; nieces and nephews, Jean Avery (Dave) of Grantham, NH, Kathleen Walker of Thetford Center, VT, Angela Ladeau (Brett) of Hartland, VT, John Turgeon (Rhonda Wilkins) of Manchester, NH, Scott Akerman (Terese) of Woodbury, VT, Shelly Matz (Joe) of Barre, VT, Michael Whipple (Christina) of Chelsea, VT, Dave Whipple (Kayliegh) of Gansevoort, NY, Brett Lauderdale of Edmond, OK, Jason Hirth (Orpha) of Edmond, OK and Daniel George (Jessica) of Tulsa, OK.

A service will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 11 am at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, VT.

Condolences to Ralph's family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com