Ralph McKeighen

VIEW VIDEO TRIBUTERalph the Barber 79 laid down his scissors comb and clippers Tuesday September 8 2009 moving on to heaven to be reunited with his beloved parents and siblings. Ralph grew up on Palm Ave. in Akron where he loved to play baseball for the Hawks team. He attended Garfield High School and later moved to Copley graduating in the class of 1948. He honorably served his country in Korea from 1951-1953 and was awarded a Purple Heart. From 1956 to 1968 Saturday mornings at Ralph's Barbershop on Copley Circle was a center of local sports talk. Many boys from Copley received their first haircut from Ralph. He became a Roffler hair stylist and operated the Tower Barber Shop at the First National Tower from 1968-1978. Ralph loved to bowl and thrilled the crowd at the Firestone Tournament of Champions Pro-Am in 1976 when he rolled 10 consecutive strikes on his way to a 279 game and 694 series out-bowling his pro partners. In 1978 Ralph left the Akron area for Las Vegas where he continued to cut hair for another 20 years. He had been barbering for 44 years when he retired. Ralph returned to the Akron area in Dec. 2007. Ralph is survived by children Karen and Brian (Valerie) McKeighen grandchildren Kate (Tim) Lance and Laura McKeighen former wife Elsie Plunkett best friend Frank Hafner special nephew Tom Brenner Sr. and many nieces and nephews. All of us will miss his colorful family stories. Funeral services will be held Saturday 11 a.m. at Hummel Funeral Home 3475 Copley Rd. COPLEY with Rev. Jack Cunningham officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. (Masonic service at 7 p.m.) A private internment and service will be held at Greenlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers Ralph has requested donations to his favorite charities Cal Farley's Boys Ranch Cal Farley's 600 W. 11th St. Amarillo TX 79101-3228 or Shriners Hospitals for Children Office of Development 2900 Rocky Point Drive Tampa FL 33607.