Ralph L. Pernice

Ralph L. Pernice passed away dreaming of his beloved home on Stony Lake on February 13, 2025, the age of 94. Ralph was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 16, 1930, to Marion L., Jr. and Dora (Rehbach) Pernice. As a toddler, his family relocated to Indiana, first to Indianapolis, and later to Greenfield. While born in Ohio, Ralph always considered himself a Hoosier. 

Ralph excelled both academically and musically. A gifted pianist, at age 16 he was the most junior member by 25 years in the dance band Charlie and His Knights of Swing. His excellence in academics throughout his years in Greenfield earned him a four-year honors scholarship to Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, where he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity, and served as chapter president. He was selected for membership in Pi Gamma Mu (social science honorary), and recipient of the Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award. Ralph worked in the college post office during his four years at Rollins and liked to note that it paid only twenty-five cents an hour but allowed him to meet all the girls on campus. 

On June 15, 1952, just after graduating from Rollins, he was married to Rebecca Ann “Becky” Strickland, also from Greenfield, who also attended Rollins College. They spent their honeymoon looking for an apartment in Chicago, where Ralph attended Northwestern University, earning his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. While they considered themselves “small town greenhorns” they treasured their Windy City years.

Following his graduation from Northwestern, Ralph was called to duty in the US Army. For the next two years he fought the “Battle of Texas,” spending time in San Antonio and Killeen as a member of the Signal Corps. Ralph joked that he must have been the only Army forklift operator with an MBA, but Ralph found value in the time he spent in the Army and felt two years of service to society should be required for all.

In 1956, Ralph and Becky moved from Texas to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Ralph joined the Upjohn Company. Throughout his thirty-three years there, Ralph steadily advanced, retiring as an Executive Director of Marketing Services. Along the way, Ralph took great pride in winning the coveted Upjohn Award and becoming known for “telling it as it is” regardless of personal consequences. Professionally he was also president of the West Michigan Marketing Association, a frequent speaker at American Marketing Association seminars, and advised the Bureau of the Census.

Ralph and Becky had two children, Laura (David Lundin), who survives, and Jason who passed away in 2022. Ralph fondly remembered flyfishing trips to the western U.S. with Jason and a whirlwind trip to New York City with Laura. He was a vocal supporter and coach during their many years playing soccer. 

Ralph and Becky spent their retirement years travelling, including tours of Europe, Costa Rica, Mexico, Bermuda, and throughout the western US and Canada. However, the Florida Panhandle was where they chose to return time and time again, either to Cape San Blas or St. George Island. He also enjoyed fly fishing, working in the yard and garden, and spending time with a succession of beloved schnauzers, Hilda, Elsa, and Morgan. 

In 2012, Becky passed away, and Ralph lost his love of more than 60 years. However, Ralph found love again at his 65th high school reunion when he reconnected with Nancy Nell (Walker) Englander. Nancy had attended school with Ralph all the way through high school, and she and her late husband, Owen, were friends of both Ralph and Becky. Nancy brought renewed joy to Ralph’s life, and the two were married on January 22, 2019, in Kalamazoo. Ralph considered himself fortunate to share the love of two remarkable women, first love Becky and dear love Nancy, who survives.

Ralph is also survived by step-granddaughters, Ella Lundin and Christina (Jason) Weaver, Nancy’s children, Owen (Liz) Englander and Beth (Tony) Maida, and nephews, Tom and Matt Strickland, as well as many grandnieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, first wife, and son, he was also predeceased by two brothers, Marion L. Pernice, III and Allen Collier Pernice, who both died in childhood, and nephew Tim Strickland. 

At Ralph’s request, there will be no funeral. A memorial celebration is being planned and details will be available through Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home, Richland Chapel, 9170 East D Avenue, Richland, MI 49083. Gifts in Ralph’s memory can be made to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the Rebecca Strickland Pernice ’54 Memorial Scholarship Fund at Rollins College, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, the Student Conservation Association, or Doctors Without Borders. Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com .