Ralph Dean Louthan was welcomed into his family by his parents Earnest Eugene and Mary Ellen (Sander) Louthan on August 4, 1951.  He departed this life on July 25, 2024, just 10 days short of his 73rd birthday.

Ralph was the only son, outnumbered by three sisters that he loved dearly, Barbara, Cathryn, and Deborah.  They grew up together in the Seiling community.  As a kid, Ralph was baptized into the Methodist Church and attended with his family.  During high school, he drove a 1963 Ford Galaxy 500, and friends say they could hear him coming from the other end of town.  Ralph worked at the Sinclair Station in Seiling during his school years.  The summer of 1967, he worked on a harvest crew traveling to several states.  He was a member of the Seiling High School graduating class of 1970.

In October of 1970, Ralph joined the United States Navy.  He became a Navy Seabee and served in active duty until 1974, and he was honorably discharged in 1976.  During this time, Ralph was stationed in numerous locations throughout the world.  His naval career took him Adak, Alaska (which he often described his role as chief light bulb installer and a beer enthusiast), Cuba, and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.  He was also stationed in Pennsylvania, where he helped with the cleanup of hurricane Agnes in 1972.

After returning from his military service, Ralph worked as a carpenter for a local contractor.  This is how he met the love of his life, Deena Jo Coulson.  Ralph and Deena began their life together on January 29, 1977, when they exchanged vows at the First Christian Church in Vici, OK.  Ralph acquired a large family with his wife and always accepted them as his own.

In April of 1978, Ralph went to work for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co. which later became Duke Conoco Phillips (DCP).  He served as a welding assistant and fieldman.  In 1980, Ralph and Deena built their family home five (5) miles west of Seiling.  They built their home side by side, like they did most things.  In 1989, Ralph and Deena welcomed James Michael Louthan into their home completing their little family.

In April of 2011, Ralph retired after 33 years of dedicated service.  Ralph collected advertising hats throughout the years.  After retirement, one of his prize possessions was a quilt Deena made him to display his advertising hats and other special hats that were sentimental to him.  Ralph and Deena loved retirement.  They always made themselves available for any family that needed a hand with a project.

In 2006, Ralph and Deena remodeled and moved to Ralph's childhood home 4 ½ miles west of Seiling.  Except for his years in the military, Ralph lived his entire life within a half-mile radius, loving every minute of it.

How do you sum up a man's life in a few words? Ralph was a devoted husband, father, son, cherished brother, and uncle.  He took each role very seriously.  He and Deena were a team in every sense of the word, working side by side, in good times and bad.  He was a welder as a profession, but he was also an accomplished carpenter and woodworker.  He was an engineer without a degree.  He could solve most problems with some thinking and sometimes a few choice words.  If anyone in the family had a project, you could count on his support and helping hand.  He was a cattleman, John Deere and CAT equipment lover, tractor driver, solitaire player, antique finder, always orderly and neat in everything he did.  He left our family way too soon and will be forever missed.

Ralph is preceded in death by his son, James Michael; parents Earnest and Mary Ellen; sister Barbara Holsapple; in-laws Hilbert and Eileen Coulson; brother-in-law Keith Davis; and sister-in-law Phyllis Coulson.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 47 years Deena of the home in Seiling, grandson Mason Louthan, sisters Cathryn Taylor and husband Larry of Bella Vista, AR, and Deborah Davis of Lubbock, TX, brother-in-law Frank Holsapple of Oakwood, OK, and brother-in-law Francis Coulson of Wellston, OK, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jerry and Mary Coulson of Vici, Ok.  There are numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends who will miss Ralph in their lives.

Memorial Donations in Ralph's honor may be made to the Seiling Fire Department, Seiling Ambulance, or the Brumfield Cemetery in c/o Redinger Funeral Home (Box 236, Seiling, OK 73663)