Ralph E. Colbert, Jr.

Ralph E. Colbert, Jr., passed away on Monday, August 19, 2024, at the age of 86. He took great pride in his family and watching his children and grandchildren grow and find success and happiness in their lives, careers, and families, and in the incredible joy of great grandchildren. In his words, the best thing he could have ever done was to marry Patricia “Patsy” (Hall) Colbert, with whom he was blessed with 59 years of marriage before she passed, and whom he described as “his best friend, companion, and inspiration.” He was born on October 12, 1937, in Uniontown, PA, eventually moving to Bloomsburg, PA, then on to Newark, Delaware, where his father’s career took them when he was 15. After meeting Patsy in high school, and marrying soon after high school, a wonderful life unfolded with four beautiful children and their families, Richard “Rick” A. Colbert (deceased) (Cathy), Deborah “Debi” C. Thomas (Jeff), A. Tab Colbert (Beth) and Sharon C. Whetham (Kevin), and many great adventures, including 14 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. Ralph was so grateful for a lifetime of friendships and memories created with his wife Patsy, classmates, “The Harmony Hills Gang”, friends made during their winters in Florida, and through his sports and drag racing activities over the years. He was so thankful for those relationships and how they brought great joy and sustained him throughout his life. He loved to share the great stories and experiences that grew from these friendships and work-related activities through his career at Diamond State Telephone. He took great joy from his years managing Newark Babe Ruth Baseball, positively impacting kids’ lives, and especially the opportunity to represent Delaware in the 1976 Babe Ruth World Series in Pueblo, Colorado, where he managed a special group of 14–15-year-old All Stars to fourth in the nation. His legacy is simple, but rich, and lies in those relationships and what he was able to pass along in the lives he touched along the way. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:30 am until 12 pm on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a memorial service will begin at 12 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ralph’s memory to the Tyler Arboretum, 515 Painter Road, Media, PA 19063 or online by clicking here.

Ralph E. Colbert, Jr.

October 12, 1937 - August 19, 2024