Ralph E. Bender

BENDER, Ralph E., age 78, of Centerville, passed away on March 30, 2016. He was born in New Philadelphia, OH on December 16, 1937 to the late Russell and Ruth Bender. Ralph earned his undergraduate from Otterbein University and his Master's degree from Xavier University. He served as a medic in the United States Army Reserve then went on to teach for 33 years. Ralph was a well-known Public Speaking and Debate teacher and coach at Centerville High School. He also directed many plays and musicals. Ralph had many achievements during his teaching career. He was recognized as Teacher of the Year by Centerville City Schools and was also inducted into the Centerville/Washington Township Education Foundation Hall of Fame. He was selected as the S.C.A.O. Speech Teacher of the Year (Speech Communication Association of Ohio), voted into the Ohio High School Speech League Hall of Fame, inducted into the National Speech and Debate Association's Hall of Fame, formerly known as the National Forensic League (N.F.L), and earned his sixth coaching diamond from the National Speech and Debate Association which is one of the highest levels of national distinction. The Dayton Daily News awarded Ralph the Excellence in Education Award and he was also honored with the Gold Key at the Barkley Forum at Emory University recognizing his contributions to forensics. He also worked as a realtor for Paragon Realty for 16 years. Ralph loved to be out boating and water skiing and taught a multitude of people how to water ski. For the past 20 years, he walked at The Sugarcreek Reserve with his buddies and Old English Sheepdogs, Muffy and Abby. He is survived by his "wife of my life" of 28 years, Lynn E. (nee Koogler) Bender; cherished children, Stacy (Jason) Tincher, Amanda (Rod) Cameron, and Ryan Bender; and beloved grandchildren, Brady and Brooke Tincher and Gage and Eli Cameron; brother, George (Polly); sisters, Evelyn (Bob) Vance and Nancy (Casper) Carlton; mother-in-law and father-in-law's, Mary E. and Duane Bayman; brother-in-law, Mark (Vicki) Koogler and many loving nieces, nephews and friends. As a final statement of Ralph's commitment to education and to improve the lives of others, he requested to donate his body to Wright State School of Medicine. And always, "Go Bucks!". A memorial service will be held at 12:00pm on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at David's United Church of Christ, 170 W David Rd., Kettering, OH 45429. The family will greet friends beginning at 9 am prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to David's United Church of Christ or Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420.