Ralph E. Stayton, age 94, passed peacefully at home on July 24, 2026. Born on February 20, 1932, to Fred and S.L. (Overmyer) Stayton, Ralph was a lifelong resident of the Leiters Ford community. He lived within a block of his birthplace his entire life, settling along the beautiful Tippecanoe River.

Ralph met and married the love of his life, Linda (Tabler Robison) of Logansport, Indiana. Married for 64 years, together Ralph and Linda built their home and raised four children: Rebecca (Mark) Stanfield, Susan (Chris) Banning, Sharon (Paul) Hershberger, and Fred (Cheryl) Stayton. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Fred & S.L. his brothers, Fred Earl, Paul & Guy Stayton, sister, Ethel Rothpletz and granddaughter, Kiersten Maclin.

Ralph & Linda are beloved grandparents to fourteen grandchildren: Clinton Maclin, Lindsay (Vincent) Olivares, Sara (Rolando) Barba, Brandon (Jessica) Hershberger, Rebekah (Tanner) Ginder, Joshua Banning, Tiana (Matthew) Strong, Caleb (Rachel) Stayton, Madalyn (Joshua) McKeever, Hannah (Jacob) Parsons, Megan (Riley) Youngman, Lydia (Michael) Oliger, and Isaac Stayton; and 13 great-grandchildren. All of Ralph and Linda’s children, their spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have made wonderful memories at the family home along the Tippecanoe River.

A 1950 graduate of Aubbeenaubbee High School, Ralph served in the Seabees Naval Reserves from 1950 to 1959. He began his career working as a bulldozer operator in the family business, Fred Stayton and Sons Excavating, from 1950 to 1963. In 1962, Ralph was elected and served eight years as the Clerk of the Fulton Circuit Court. He later became a real estate broker, and together with Linda, owned and operated the Leiters Ford Insurance Agency for 28 years.

Ralph took great joy in improving his hometown of Leiters Ford. He enjoyed making properties and landscapes look beautiful and thrived on planning and executing tasks. He collected rocks picked from local fields, using them to create stone walls and monuments that are enjoyed by many. Ralph was grateful to remain active until just weeks before his passing.

Above all, Ralph loved the Lord. He attended the Leiters Ford Church throughout his life and rededicated his life to the Lord in the early 1980s. He treasured reading and hiding God’s Word in his heart and served as a member of the Gideons International through the local Fulton County Camp for 50 years. One of his greatest joys was helping place Bibles into the hands of people around the world. He deeply believed that God’s Word and the knowledge of Jesus’ saving grace would change lives.

Ralph will be remembered as a humble, hardworking man whose love for God, devotion to his family, and commitment to serving others left a lasting legacy within his family and the community he loved.

A celebration of life is planned for Friday, July 31 at the Leiters Ford Church at noon. Friends can pay respects from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International or the Aubbeenaubbee Township Park and Recreation Fund.

Ralph’s online guestbook is available and condolences can be shared with the family at www.ransfuneralhomes.com.