Ralph (Lefty) Winner, age 90, left us on October 24, 2014, while at the Versailles Health Care Center, where he was just admitted. Ralph just recently celebrated two major milestones in his life, his 90th birthday and his 64th wedding anniversary, and he enjoyed both greatly. He was born on September 13, 1924 in Yorkshire, Ohio and was the son of Robert & Kathryn (Bergman) Winner. Ralph married Elsie Schulze from Willowdell Ohio, on October 19, 1950 at St. Nicholas Church in Osgood, Ohio. Ralph is survived by his spouse, Elsie, sons Bruce (Brenda Scott), Alan (Nancy Thein) and Brian (Beth Huelsman), son-in-law Rich Vagedas and his brothers and sister, Urban (Babe, deceased and Connie), Tom (Henrietta), Kenny (Bev) and Karen (Ron Schwieterman) sister-in-law Ag Winner along with 12 grandchildren and 4 (almost 5) great-grandchildren. Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Kathryn, his daughter, Brenda Vagedas (June 2000), and his siblings, Robert, Vera Mae, Patrick and Vernon. Ralph graduated from Minister High School, Class of 1942. After high school he attended Nashville College before going to work at the Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti Michigan for 2 years, where he helped to build the B-24 Bomber, which was integral to winning WWII. He then joined the US Army, and was stationed in Germany. After 2 years, he came back to Osgood, where he lived the rest of his life, and worked for Robert Winner Sons, as a partner in the family business for 40+ years until his retirement in 1990. Ralph was a member of Osgood Legion Post 588, Osgood Fire Department, Knights of St. John and the Minister Eagles and the St. Nicholas Catholic Church. Throughout his life, Ralph loved all sports, especially the Cincinnati Reds and the Marion Local Flyers and he loved to tell jokes. He played and enjoyed baseball, horseshoes, bowling and golf. He was also one of the directors who helped get the Western Ohio Baseball League started in the early 1950's where he played for the Osgood Crackers for over 10 years. Later in life, he took his talents to the card table, pool table and making puzzles. Viewing will be held at Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Minister on Sunday, Oct 26th from 1 to 6 PM and on Monday, Oct. 27th from 9 to 10 AM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Osgood on Monday, October 27, 2014 at 10:30AM, with burial to follow at St. Martin Cemetery in Osgood with full military honors. In lieu of flowers Ralph requests memorial donations be made to the Osgood Fire Department and Rescue or to the Osgood American Legion, Post 588. Condolences may be left on Ralph Winner's online guest book at www.hogenkampfh.com.
