Ralph Dale Meredith, 83, of Port Huron Township, went home to be with the Lord on Good Friday, March 29, 2024.
He was born August 26, 1940 in Los Angeles, California to the late Anna Marie Hoskin, and was adopted by Merlin Meredith at a young age. After Merlin’s death, Anna Marie married William Clark who became Ralph’s beloved step-father. Ralph graduated from Port Huron High School in 1958 and attended Bethel College and Port Huron Junior College, during which time he sang and played the trombone at several local churches with his school friends. Ralph then attended Michigan State University where it was rumored that he spent just as much time studying Marilyn Mitchell and playing ping pong as he did studying his classwork. He married Marilyn on January 5, 1963 in Lansing Missionary Church.
Over the years Ralph worked at A&W and Mueller Brass and drove the ambulance for Lucas Funeral Home. He decided that he preferred to work for himself, though, and his entrepreneurial spirit was born. Ralph operated Sterling Fireplace, a flower shop in Canada, a fiberglass pool company, sold Slick 50 and Christmas decorations from Bronner’s, operated Coronado Stone, sold securities and was President of C.J. Green Gas Wells in Kentucky. In 1965, he and Marilyn opened the first company-owned H&R Block office in Michigan and in 1989 Meredith Tax Service began.
Ralph had an extensive clock collection and cane collection, enjoyed doing stained glass work, loved fishing, and liked playing softball and tennis. He was a lifetime member of Colonial Woods Missionary Church and a founding member of Youth for Christ East Michigan.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marilyn; four children, Brian (Robin), Devin (Tammy) and Erlinda Meredith and Renee (Shane) Hernandez; five grandchildren, Izac, Owen and Alex Meredith, Kelsey and Kara Hernandez; sister, Paula (Jim) Dell; step-siblings, Loren (Brenda) Clark, Noreen Gardner, Kay (Ken) Jelinek and Jan Price; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, David, Arlene and Glen (Candy) Mitchell; and grand-dogs, Iris and Ivy. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Caiden Hernandez; and brother-in-law, Howard Mitchell.
Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at Colonial Woods Missionary Church with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Reverend Brian Ake will officiate. Friends and family may view the livestream of the service by visiting Ralph’s obituary page on the funeral home website.
Burial will be Woodland Cemetery, Port Huron Township. Pallbearers will be Ralph’s family.
Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Christian Academy, Youth for Christ East Michigan, Colonial Woods Missionary Church or the Blue Water Sport Fishing Association. To send condolences, visit pollockrandall.com
Ralph’s family is very grateful and wishes to thank those who have taken such good care of him over the last few years.
