Ralph Emerson de Werff, 1927 – 2019, age 92, of Given’s Estates in Asheville, NC passed away on October 1, 2019 from health complications due to Pneumonia.

Ralph was born April 16, 1927, to Henry August and Maddie Florence de Werff in Eureka, IL. He was active in high school sports all four years and the Captain of the Rollo Township High School Basketball team. He graduated from Rollo Township High School in 1945.

He went on to attend and graduate from the University of Illinois on June 16, 1950 with a Bachelor’s Degree. He was married to Barbara Baker de Werff for 55 years until Barbara’s death in 2005.

Ralph served as a Captain in the United States Air Force, and spent a year in Korea before completing his military duty at Fort Shaw in December 1957. Ralph was an agent for State Farm Insurance in Bloomington,IL for 25 years before retiring in July 1988 to Hendersonville, NC .

Ralph was a member of Asheville’s New Hope Presbyterian Church and is survived by his current wife Elaine D. de Werff of Asheville, NC, his sister Adele Stevens of Arlington, VA along with 4 daughters, 2 sons, 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, October 14, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Stevens Cemetery in rural Rollo,IlL. Shulers Funeral Home in Hendersonville, NC and Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Earlville, IL are handling the funeral arrangements.