Ralph Lugbill

Ralph Lugbill was born February 5, 1931 to Sylvanus and Mary (“Mamie”) Schmucker Lugbill in rural Archbold, Ohio. He died July 4, 2017 in Boulder, Colorado.

Ralph attended Goshen College (Indiana), graduating in 1953. During summer break he went west to work for his sister and her husband on their ranch in Westminster, Colorado and to study at the University of Colorado. Through mutual friends, he met Viva Stoltzfus, who was in a Mennonite nursing program in La Junta, Colorado. They married in 1952.

Ralph and Viva served in La Plata, Puerto Rico under the Mennonite Mission Board from 1953-1955, with Ralph working on rural agricultural projects and as administrator of the tobacco barn-turned-hospital there and Viva working as an RN in the hospital, where their oldest child, Ann, was born. Ralph and Viva returned to Archbold, Ohio in 1955. Sons Ralph Kent, Ron, and Jon were born in Archbold. Ralph worked in the family livestock auction and supply businesses.

Ralph and Viva were charter members of Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio. Ralph was part of the church council that established the new church. He was an active youth leader there and at Little Eden Camp, Onekama, Michigan.

In 1964, Ralph and Viva and their family moved to the Washington, D.C. area. He was self-employed, managing commercial real estate. They attended the Oakton, Virginia Church of the Brethren near their home in Fairfax. They began attending Langley Hill Friends Meeting in Langley, Virginia in the 1970s, and soon became members. They were active in Vietnam War protests and successfully organized to prevent a ROTC program from starting up in Fairfax County schools.

Ralph served on the Boards of the Friends Committee on National Legislation and Sandy Springs Friends School in Maryland, serving both as treasurer. He was President of the Goshen College Alumni Board. He and Viva established Goshen’s Ralph and Viva Lugbill Multicultural Award, providing scholarships to students from diverse backgrounds. He was trustee of the first women’s federally-chartered bank, Women’s National Bank in Washington, D.C., which opened its doors in 1978.

Ralph was active in the lives of his four children and an avid canoeist, skier, and hiker. He and Viva travelled to Europe for their sons’ international canoe and kayak competitions. They were thrilled to watch Jon compete in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and encouraged son Ron’s coaching of Olympic paddlers.

Beginning in the late 1980’s, Ralph and Viva began taking long summer vacations at Meeker Park Lodge, above Estes Park. All the grandchildren came to enjoy hiking and mountain climbing with Grandpa in the Rocky Mountains. In 1997, Ralph retired and he and Viva built a home in Estes Park, Colorado, facing Longs Peak. He was active in the Trail Trekkers hiking group and “Over the Hill” skiing group, until age 80. He scaled Longs Peak eleven times.

Ralph was an active member of Boulder Friends Meeting, having transferred his membership in 1998 from Langley Hill Meeting. Ralph served on the Peace and Social Justice Committee for many years and championed peace-oriented and grassroots development projects in Latin America for support by the Meeting.

In 2014, Ralph and Viva moved to Boulder, Colorado. Ralph passed away July 4, 2017 following a year-long bout with cancer.  He died peacefully without pain and with family by his side.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Viva, his brother, Chuck Lugbill, his four children and spouses, Ann Lugbill (Brewster Rhoads), Ralph Kent Lugbill (Leslie Boyhan), Ron Lugbill, and Jon Lugbill (Gillian),  and seven grandchildren, Elizabeth, Caroline, Alex, Brian, Anna, Kelly, and Stephanie.

A memorial service in celebration of Ralph Lugbill’s life was held at Boulder Friends Meeting on July 15, 2017.