Ralph Daniel Graham

Ralph Daniel Graham Ralph D. Graham passed away on November 23rd, 2024 after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Frances W. Graham, his daughter and son in-law Kimberly A. Graham and Mark F. Jewell, two sister's in-law and their families, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Ralph was born on October 9th, 1933. He grew up in Northwood New Hampshire and graduated from Coe-Brown Academy. He served in the United States Army, after which he returned to NH to attend the Thompson School of Agriculture at UNH. After graduating, he apprenticed for a season before starting his own landscaping business: Profile Landscaping. Ralph’s business grew and sustained by word-of-mouth, as he had a great eye for design and color and gave meticulous attention to detail in his work. During that time, Ralph met his future bride Fran, when she moved to Northwood to take a teaching position at Coe-Brown Academy. In addition to a lifetime career in landscaping, Ralph also spent twenty-six winters at the King Ridge ski area as a chair lift operator where he formed lasting friendships with co-workers and customers alike. He was known for his snow castles, bringing a box of candy or donuts to share on the weekends, and if you were lucky, you’d find him cooking hamburgers and hot dogs on the deck of the lodge on a beautiful ‘Spring Fling’ March Day. Ralph had a lifelong love of nature and the great outdoors. He enjoyed skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing and fishing. Northern NH held a special place in his heart and he initially designed and built a brookside cabin there and later bought the retirement home where he and Fran spent many years surrounded by beautiful views, sunsets and wildlife. Throughout his life, Ralph enjoyed maintaining his summer vegetable gardens and was especially proud of his bountiful tomato harvests. He loved the family cats and dogs and enjoyed spending time taking the dogs for walks in the woods. Some of Ralph’s other favorite pastimes included going to live music performances and summer theater, watching football, going to new and favorite restaurants alike, visiting country fairs, theme parks and traveling. Among all of his travels, there was one special trip to Alaska, which featured a multi-day fishing trip with friends on the Deshka River. Ralph was always positive and outgoing and had a gentle spirit. He made new friends easily; even in the last weeks and days of his life he touched many lives. If you knew Ralph, you probably have a story or two to remember fondly. Ralph was loved by many; he is greatly missed.

Tributes

Ralph Daniel Graham

October 9, 1933 - November 23, 2024