Ralph Pitts Passes Away

Ralph was raised on a farm near Delia and went to Rossville High.  However he graduated from Maple Hill High. 

Ralph Lowell Pitts, III, 72 of Golden, Missouri and formerly of White City, passed away suddenly Saturday, January 5, 2019 in Abilene, Kansas. Ralph was born on May 11, 1946 in Rochester, Indiana, the only son of Ralph Lowell, Jr. and Geraldine (Friesen) Pitts.

Ralph grew up on a farm near Delia Kansas and was a 1964 graduate of Maple Hill High School.

Ralph joined the Marines upon high school graduation and served his country honorably including a tour of duty in Vietnam during the Vietnam war.

Returning to Kansas following his discharge, Ralph began his civilian career as a lineman with Kansas Power and Light in Topeka.

On April 13, 1968, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane Reppart. They began their married life in Topeka until Ralph was promoted to outside agent assigned to the White City office, covering the Woodbine, Latimer, White City, Parkerville, Dwight and Alta Vista areas. The family, which then included four children, moved to rural Dwight while building their home in White City in 1978.

Moving to White City in 1979, the Pitts family was very involved in numerous activities in the community.

Ralph was a member of the White City American Legion and was instrumental in getting a new building moved to the Legion site in the early 1980’s. He was also instrumental in the American Legion’s many haunted houses they transformed at numerous sites. Ralph served several years as the Legion commander for the White City post. He also was very involved with the summer ball association.

Ralph was an avid sports fan and rarely missed a sporting activity or other activities and programs involving his kids. He loved to hunt and fish and loved nothing better than he and Mary Jane entertaining with a big fish fry each summer.

Mary Jane passed away on June 30, 2003.

Ralph never met a stranger, was always willing to help out anyone in need, never too busy to assist with a project in the community or school and amassed a huge crowd of friends over the years.

After retirement from Westar Energy in 2007, he continued to enjoy his past times of fishing and boating, including fishing trips with family and friends.

On November 26, 2010, Ralph was united in marriage to Christine Paul. They made their home near Golden, Missouri where they had just recently built a new home on a lake.

Ralph loved to spend time with his family, especially entertaining his grandchildren. He also enjoyed the many friendships he and Christine had made where they lived. He loved being near the lake to fish and go boating.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary Jane and his daughter Kim in 2006.

He is survived by his wife, Christine, of the home; two sons, Shawn and wife Elissa of Fort Collins, Colorado and J. J. and wife Libby of Nortonville, Kansas; a daughter, Jayme Urban and fiancée Chase Fairchild of Abilene, Kansas; twelve grandchildren, Jarett, Macy and Ryder Pitts, Baylee, Meagan and Jenna Pitts and Kate and Chloe Urban, Bailey and Casey Ireland and Daylan and Trytan Fairchild; a step-daughter, Donna Prickett and husband, Kevin and their children, Emilia, Elisha and Christina of Carlton, Kansas; three sisters, Shirley Henderson of Carbondale, Linda Downie of Topeka and Nancy Mercer of Delia, several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Ralph was an organ donor and later his remains were cremated.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, January 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the White City United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials honoring Ralph’s life may be given to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and sent in care of Ralph’s daughter, Jayme Urban, at 618 NW 8th St., Abilene, KS 67410.