Ralph Handlin

(From Parker Mortuary)

Ralph Burton Handlin, was born August 16, 1933 to Frank and Hester Handlin in Geneseo, KS the 8th of ultimately 9 children in the family. He graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in Industrial Engineering and is an Army Veteran from the Korean War.

While the boy left the Kansas farm, the farm never left the boy! Ralph could often be found in his vegetable or rose garden, caring for the dogs and cats, nourishing a fruit or pecan tree, tinkering with a small motor or out on his tractor or riding lawn mower.

Ralph’s contribution to the Joplin area community is woven into its history. As the Division Superintendent of the Joplin Gas Service Company for many years, he led a dedicated team to help his community be safe, fed and warm. His quick thinking after the collapse of the Connor Hotel to use natural gas sniffing equipment helped locate the men trapped below.

As a civil engineer, Ralph designed many of our community gas systems and the transportation of this resource through pipeline underground and across bridges. After tornados would tear apart this infrastructure, he would always be part of the solution to put it back together. He had his own engineering firm for some time and also worked for the Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety.

Ralph encouraged others to work hard to reach their goals whether he was at the office, on the little league baseball field, as a husband, father, grandfather. He was an active member of the United Methodist Church both in Webb City and in Joplin. His deep baritone voice was often heard in the choir.

Ralph passed on April 27, 2021 after a brief illness. He will be missed by the many lives he touched.

Ralph was predeceased by his first wife, Billie Joan Strella.

He is survived by his wife of 19 years Melanie, his brother Max Handlin and wife Sharron, his son Larry Handlin and wife Leslie and son Lucas, daughter Vickie and husband Alvin McGill along with Vickie’s son’s Derek Suelzle, Matthew Suelzle and wife, Arissa and their daughter Peyton. He is also survived by his stepchildren Scott Blizzard his wife Melanie and their children Darcy, Dancy and husband Jesse, Nick Blizzard his wife Heather and Nick’s children Chelsea, Clinton and Caitlin along with Chelsea’s husband Josh Sherwood and daughter Alexus Sherwood, Clinton’s daughter December Blizzard and Heather’s son Brodyn Day and step grandson James McGill.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s, Joplin Humane Society, or United Methodist Church Joplin in care of the mortuary.

Family visitation is at the Joplin United Methodist Church Sunday May 2 at 3:30 with Memorial of Ralph’s life beginning at 4:30.