Obituary of Ralph W. Gruber

Ralph W. Gruber, 84, of West Ellicott, went to his eternal home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Ralph was born April 18, 1939 to the late John and Marie Gruber in Lander, Pa. He was married for 53 years to the late Stella Harkins Gruber whom he wed April 21, 1956 and who died Jan. 6, 2010. He later married Kathryn "Kathy" Hitchcock on July 9, 2011. Ralph worked at MRC for 19 years before moving to Arizona. While living in Cave Creek, AZ, he was the maintenance manager of Desert Forest Golf Course in Carefree, AZ. He also found time to build his own home, and invented a range hood with smoke detector for which he received a patent in 1994. Returning to New York 17 years later, he built his second home in Watts Flats. Ralph enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, camping, making maple syrup and spending time with his family. You could also always find him at the nearest auction. Along with his wife of 12 years, Kathy, surviving are two sons: Jeff (Diane) Gruber and Duane (Val) Gruber, both of Ashville, NY; three daughters: Deb Farrar of Youngsville, PA, Donna (Santos) Castro of Arizona, and Robin McChesney of Ashville; many grandchildren, great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; as well as two brothers, Ray Gruber of Baldwinsville, NY and Jack Gruber of Mayville, NY, and a sister, Betty Chase of Sugar Grove, PA. Also surviving are three stepchildren: Jeffrey (Cindy) Hitchcock of Ashville, Patricia Hitchcock of Jamestown, and Brenda (Bert) Nickerson of Luray, VA; and several step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, and one step great-great grandchild. Besides his parents and his wife, Stella, Ralph was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Tammy Fain; grandson, Santos Castro; two brothers, John and Bob Gruber; sister, Gladys Gruber; two sons-in-law, Gary McChesney and Woody Farrar; and a stepdaughter, Beverly Harris. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. Ralph's grandson, Jim Gruber, will officiate. The burial, via horse-drawn hearse, will take place in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Lind's. Memorials may be made to Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.