Ralph W. Gartrell

Ralph W. Gartrell, 89, a respected retired educator, coach and school administrator, died Friday, March 30. On an autumn day in October, 1917, Ralph was born at home on a sprawling family farm spanning the borders of Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties — the youngest of seven children born to the late Samuel Jerimiah Gartrell and his wife, Ora Melissa Edie Gartrell. Mr. Gartrell received his elementary education at Leesville and his secondary education at Sherrodsville High School, where, in 1935, he graduated as class salutatorian. Ralph regarded himself a good country athlete in all sports and is credited for bringing the first left-handed jump-shot to area high school basketball. In 1936, he enrolled in health and physical education training at Kent State University. During his time there, he continued to excel in all sports, especially boxing. Mr. Gartrell returned to school years later to earn a Master’s degree in Guidance Counseling and school administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Following graduation from KSU in 1939, he married his high school sweetheart, the former Mary B. Gambell. He began his 39 year career as a coach and teacher first at Nashville, Ohio, under the tutelage of Superintendent L. D. Freschorn Â? whom Mr. Gartrell regarded as the best superintendent he ever had the privilege of serving during his career. The following year he became head basketball coach at Sebring, Ohio, winning the Tri-County League Championship, and also coaching the track team to an undefeated season.In 1941 and ’42, Mr. Gartrell was hired as the head basketball and baseball coach at Gnadenhutten High School. The basketball team advanced to the state tournament where they edged out Ottawa Hills by three points. The baseball team Mr. Gartrell coached also went undefeated. As World War II unfolded, Mr. Gartrell entered the United States Army in July, 1943. Ralph served as an infantryman in the Pacific Theatre, taking part in battles at Guadalcanal and the Marshall and Caroline Islands. He was one of a very few soldiers from his company to survive the battle of Pelilu, and for injuries he received in the battle, was awarded the Purple Heart. Private First Class Gartrell was one of only 20 soldiers and officers of 60, 000 men to be awarded the expert infantry badge, and was discharged honorably in February, 1945 due to the injuries he received on Pelilu Â? wounds he would carry for the rest of his life. Upon his return to Ohio, Mr. Gartrell rejoined the faculty at Sebring McKinley High School where he served as head coach for all high school sports. The following year he became the head basketball coach at Martins Ferry, and joined the legendary Fred Thomas, head football coach at Martin’s Ferry, where Gartrell was line coach for some of the best football players in the Ohio Valley of their time. In 1949, the Gartrell family returned to the Tuscarawas Valley when Ralph joined the coaching staff of the New Philadelphia High School Football team. He was especially close to many of his former players from the undefeated 1951 squad. Mr. Gartrell was a familiar face at New Philadelphia where he served as teacher, coach and guidance counselor through the 1950’s and 1960’s.In 1967, Mr. Gartrell accepted the position of principal at Smithville High School in Wayne county. Following five years of service there, he accepted his final position in 1972, as principal at Indian Valley North High School, retiring in 1979.Throughout his career, Ralph was a member of the Ohio Education Association, the National Education Association and in 1966 was named to the Ohio High School Basketball Hall of Fame for his more than 190 career wins. Active in the community, Mr. Gartrell was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, both of New Philadelphia. He was a member of the Ruritian Club at Smithville, the Lions Club and Post 9620 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Midvale. He also held membership in the Ohio American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Retired Teachers Association. In addition to his wife of sixty-seven years, and sweetheart of more than seventy years, Mary, of New Philadelphia, Mr. Gartrell is survived by his daughter, Jean Ann (husband James Alter) of Juneau, Alaska; three grandchildren, Geoffrey Alter also of Juneau, Kirsten (husband Jeff Organek) of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Kathryn Alter of New York City, New York; and five great grandchildren. A brother, Samuel Kenneth Gartrell (wife Ella) of Westerville; sisters-in-law Ruby Gartrell of Leesville, and Blanche Gartrell of Newcomerstown; and from his wife’s side of the family, brothers-in-law Harry (Fran) Gambell of Brewster, Charles Norris of North Ridgeville, Ohio and a sister-in-law, Catherine Gambell of Beverly, Ohio also survive. Thirty-six nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews complete the family.In addition to his parents, Mr. Gartrell was preceded in death by his sister Helen Miller and four brothers, Eddison T. “Ted” Gartrell, E. Noel Gartrell, Lloyd, “L.B.” Burdette Gartrell and John Gartrell.Friends are invited to call Wednesday, April 4, 2007, from 5PM Â? 7PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The Rev. Dr. Steven R. Bailey will lead the Gartrell Funeral Thursday morning, April 5, at 10:30 in the funeral home’s chapel. Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Memory Gardens at Dover, with military honors rendered by members of the Midvale VFW. Following the committal service, a reception will be given for family and friends in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home. The Gartrell family requests that memorial contributions be made to any of the following charities: The New Philadelphia Quaker Foundation, 343 Ray Avenue NW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, The Indian Valley Teachers Scholarship Fund, in care of the First National Bank of Dennison, 130 North Walnut Street, Gnadenhutten, OH 44629 or to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.