Waite & Son Funeral Homes

I think we all have an obligation -- a debt to repay. I think that's been the way I've looked at serving my community." -- Ralph WaiteAt 92 years young, Waite has not just dabbled in community service; he has devoted years of passionate, active involvement through a variety of personal commitments and community organizations. As of this week, he and his wife, Helen, will have been married for 70 years. During that time, he has been an active member of the Medina Rotary for over 50 years; served as chief contact for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program for 25 years; served as Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 501 for more than 30 years; and was a Buckeye Boys State commissioner for more than 40 years. This section of Ralph Waite's elaborate model train setup on the second floor of Waite & Sons Funeral Home in Medina features a miniature Boy Scout Camp Manatoc and the old Chippewa Lake amusement park. (Mary Jane Brewer, special to cleveland.com)Mark Holan, special to cleveland.com Ralph Waite was born in Medina in 1926 -- and he still lives in the house in which he was born. When he was just 8 years old, he was stocking shelves at Pelton's Grocery Store when his father came in to tell him that his mother had died. He and his 6-year-old sister, Janice, were taken under the wing of the Pelton family and their eight children -- his mother, Violet, had been a Pelton. That early loss of his mother caused him to have great compassion for other children who had lost their parents. While he was a student at Medina High School, he met his future wife, Helen Clark, when they both played in the band -- he on the clarinet, and she as a drummer. Here's a larger view of Ralph Waite's model train village version of Medina. (Mary Jane Brewer, special to cleveland.com)Mary Jane Brewer, special to cleveland.com During his sophomore year, the United States joined World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As soon as he graduated in June 1944, he joined the Army and was shipped to...

Waite of Morrisville passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at his home with his family by his side. He was 84. Born in Altadena, Calif., Mr. Waite lived in Bristol Township before moving to Morrisville 56 years ago. Prior to his retirement in 1994, he was employed as a steam fitter with Local #9 Pipefitters Union for 33 years. Mr. Waite enjoyed camping, and was a member of the Holiday Ramblers Camping Group. His interests included wood carving and reading. He especially loved his many trips to Disney World. Ken found great joy in spending time with his large family. Son of the late Everett Milton and Ara Patricia (Ryan) Waite, and father of the late David Mark Waite, he is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Gladys M. (Buck) Waite; three sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Joy Waite of Levittown, Steven and Sheryll Waite of Morrisville, and Andrew and Donna Waite of Hillsborough, N.J.; four daughters and sons-in-law, Cynthia and Michael Macikanycz of Morrisville, Tracy and Joseph Duke of Langhorne, Michele and Andrew Hines of Levittown, and Vicki and Dale Burkhart of Levittown; a brother, James Jenter of Browns Mills, N.J.; two sisters, Ara Fleck of Smithville, Texas and Michele Scott of Browns Mills; 20 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel, 41 W. Trenton Ave., Morrisville. The Rev. Shannon Waite- Hendricks will officiate. His interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Feasterville, Pa. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, at the funeral chapel. J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel, Morrisville www.hooperfuneralchapel.com ...