Visitation:
Monday, October 25, 2021
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM &
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Bible Baptist Church
Willard , Ohio
Visitation 2:
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
10:00 -11:00 AM
Bible Baptist Church
Willard , OH
Service:
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
11:00 AM
Bible Baptist Church
Willard , Ohio
Ralph L. Cherry, 83, of Willard went home to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on Thursday, October 21, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy (Molz) Cherry. They have five children, Jonathan (Judy) Cherry, David (Jill) Cherry, Tim (Sandy) Cherry, Becky (David) Carpenter, and Matthew (Shellie) Cherry, 19 grandchildren - Trevor Cherry, Lydia (Steven) Howard, Logan Cherry, Micah Cherry, Jacob Cherry, Ben (Sarah) Cherry, Cady (Garrett) VerBerg, Ruth Cherry, Paul (Shellby) Cherry, Andy (Desiree) Cherry, Emily Hrivnak, Kimberly Hrivnak, Bailey Carpenter, Knoble Carpenter, Garrett Carpenter, Holly Cherry, Kristina Cherry, Krystal (Noah) Hessler, Brandon Cherry, 17 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Ralph is proceeded in his death by his parents, Paul H Cherry and Anna Ellen (Hoce) Cherry, his siblings Paul W. Cherry, Roberta Honaker, Robert Cherry, and Marjorie Ropp.
Ralph graduated from Bob Jones University, as he followed the Lord's call to preach the Gospel. He soon began his life's calling when accepting the call to pastor in Columbiana, OH. From there he moved to Pennsylvania to pastor in Lancaster County and then on to Maryland to become an assistant pastor. He then felt the Lord's leading to move to Ohio where he was a mentor to many pastors and active in church as a deacon for many years. He also was interim pastor at various times for Sandusky Baptist Temple, Norwalk Baptist Church, and Fremont Baptist Temple. The Lord led Ralph to start North Fairfield Baptist Church, which later merged with the restart of Bible Baptist Church in Willard, where he served as interim pastor for several years before calling a full-time pastor.
Ralph was bi-vocational throughout his years of full-time ministry. He was an electrician for many years in the North Fairfield area and installed wiring in several area church buildings as they were constructed. He was known among his church family and friends for going to the need of anyone who had an electrical problem. He retired from CertainTeed Avery, Oh as a journeyman electrician/master mechanic in 2003.
Ralph is remembered for teaching his children that "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold." (Prov 22:1) He was faithful in daily prayer for those in the ministry, whether they be pastors, missionaries, assistants, or laymen for the Lord.
Ralph was a true gentle man. He always held the door for ladies, especially his wife of 60 years. He always helped her into the car. He would laugh and say that he was truly called into the ministry because he wasn't one to just go up and talk to strangers, yet the Lord helped him overcome and be a wonderful Pastor-friend to many.
Ralph/Dad/Poppop/Pastor was known to reveal himself to many as their best friend when those found themselves in need of his friendship, love, and guidance. His favorite verse was Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" Only through Ralph's repentance of his sin and turning to Jesus Christ in faith as his Saviour was he able to have peace.
In celebration of Ralph's life lived faithfully for the Lord, please join at Bible Baptist Church in Willard on Monday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM and also on Tuesday from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, where the funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, with Dr. E. Allen Griffith officiating. Burial will follow at the North Fairfield Cemetery in North Fairfield, Ohio. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.secorfuneralhomes.com.