Dateline: Alton
Ralph Gene McElroy, 83, died at 6:25 a.m. Thursday, October 6, 2011 at Alton Memorial Hospital. Born September 27, 1928 in Tamaroa, IL, and later moved with his parents at the age of eight months to Alton. Gene attended Alton schools and graduated with honors from Alton High School with the class of 1946. After graduation he enlisted with the U.S. Army Air Corps and served a tour of duty in the 8th Air Force in the era of the B-36 and the Berlin Airlift. Gene returned to Alton and attended and graduated from Shurtleff College majoring in languages and business administration. While there Gene was elected as Student Body President and also was included in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. After graduating he accepted a position with the Alton Box Board and retired in 1986 as Director of Industrial Relations of Jefferson Smurfit Company. He was active in United Way, Red Cross, and Junior Achievement. Gene also served 18 years in the Active Army Reserve component of Army Combat Engineers. Gene's parents, Ralph McElroy and Della (Marshall) Jackson McElroy preceded him in death. His father Ralph Sidney McElroy died in 1945 and his mother Della Elnora McElroy died in 1995. Gene survived the loss of two wives, Evelyn (Antolik) McElroy in 1969 and Ruth (Morris) Farish McElroy in 2007. Gene is survived by a brother, Donald Marshall McElroy of Wood River, IL. Gene was the proud father of three children, Robert Timothy, Susan Kay, and James Paul. His six grandchildren: Betsy Ann McElroy Bartig, Travis Ryan McElroy, Reid Marshall Linksvayer, Greer Victoria Linksvayer, Erin Nicole McElroy, Nicholas James McElroy. Also surviving are four great grandsons, Micah Benjamin Bartig, Jonah Andrew Bartig, Johnathan Ryan McElroy, and James Ryan McElroy. Ralph Gene is a life member of Calvary Baptist Church and active as a Deacon Emeritus, Trustee, active on the Advisory Finance Committee, and fifty-two year Sunday school teacher, as well as, a long-term member of the Counting Committee. Gene is a Life Member of Franklin Lodge #25 AF & AM. He loved skeet, clay bird shooting, hunting, and reloading ammunition. Gene loved European traveling and travels to Hawaii, as well as, attending musical theater and various concert venues. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until time of funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 8, 2011 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto with full military honors by the VFW Post 1308. Reverend Dr. Rick Patrick will officiate. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, Wounded War Veteran Research, or 5A Animal Aid Association.



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