WOOSTER – Ralph H. Gresser, 86, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2013. Ralph was born on September 10, 1926 to Irvin and Mabel (Hooley) Gresser on the family farm outside of Smithville in Wayne County, Ohio. After graduating from Smithville High School in 1944, he served as a Military Police Officer in the U.S. Army in the Philippines at the end of World War II. After completing his military commitment, he earned a B.S. in Agriculture from Ohio State University in 1951, where he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity. Ralph married Mary Lee on June 8, 1951 and the couple settled in Smithville, where he became a field man for the Ohio Milk Producers and began operation of a dairy farm. Ralph joined Wayne Mutual Insurance Company as a field representative in 1956 moving to Wooster. He was named the company ™s Secretary-Treasurer in 1962. In 1996, he stepped down from his management duties as president of the company becoming chairman of the board of directors. He is currently a director emeritus after relinquishing his duties as chairman in 2010. Ralph was actively involved in several insurance trade organizations, including the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), the Ohio Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (OAMIC) and the Alliance of American Insurers (AAI). He was elected to a three-year term as a director of NAMIC in 1973, served as president of OAMIC in 1979, and as a vice-chairman of AAI in 1981 serving again in 1992. As a youth Ralph served as president of the 1944 Junior Fair Board of the Wayne County Fair. He was a member of the Wooster United Methodist Church for over 50 years. Ralph had also been a member of Wooster Noon Lions Club, including a term as president in 1969. He had been an amateur pilot, avid golfer and loved fishing. He had been a member of the Wooster Country Club and the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce serving on its legislative committee. For the past three years, Ralph has been an active member of the Rockynol Retirement Community in Akron. In addition to his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by his wife Mary and his brothers Joe and James Gresser. Surviving are his two children, Scott (Angie) Gresser of Lady Lake, Florida and Suzanne (Philip) Kroll of Akron. Friends will be received at the McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster on Monday, June 3, 2013 from 6-8:00 p.m. Memorial service will be held Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Wooster United Methodist Church, 243 N. Market St. Wooster with Rev. Dr. David Wilcox and Rev. Larry Black officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wooster United Methodist in his memory.

Memorial Contributions
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wooster United Methodist Church, 243 N. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691

Service
Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at the Wooster United Methodist Church, 243 N. Market St., Wooster

Visitation
Monday, June 3, 2013 from 6-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home