Ralph Hodges Morgan, 81, of Littlestown, formerly of Eldersburg, MD, passed away Fri, Oct 30.  Born Feb 9, 1934 in West Baltimore, he was the son of the late Garner E. & Mary M. Clark Morgan. He was the husband of the Rev. Dr. Laura Lee C. Morgan of Littlestown.  Ralph was a 1952 graduate of Edison High School, received an AA degree from Catonsville Community College and a BA degree from Loyola College, Baltimore.  He also attended the Northwestern University, IL and the University of Louisville, KY studying supervision of police personnel.  He also attended the Francis Glessner Lee Homicide Seminar in Baltimore and homicide seminar at the Vermont State Police Academy.

 

Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict with basic training at Paris Island.  He was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division FMF, Camp LeJune, NC.  He received a Meritorious Mast for outstanding performance of duty.  In 1958 Ralph became a member of the Baltimore City Police Dept before joining the Maryland State Police in 1959.  He was assigned to the Randallstown Barrack upon graduating from Maryland State Police Academy.  Ralph served as traffic and criminal Investigator at Randallstown, as uniform Sgt at the Waldorf Barrack, Criminal Investigator at the Investigation Division Headquarters in Pikesville.  After an assignment to the Maryland Port Police Dept at the Port of Baltimore, he returned to the Investigation Division as 1st Lt., retiring in 1982.  Ralph served in Baltimore City, Cambridge and Princess Anne during riots of 1968 and at the University of Maryland College Park Campus Disorders.  He received the Governor’s Citation for a rescue operation during Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972.  He received a Superintendent’s letter for performance in revising forms used to investigate Trooper applicants.  Ralph was certified by the American Society for Industrial Security as a Protection Professional and served as president of the local chapter.  From 1982 – 2005 he was in the gasoline service station business in Arbutus, Baltimore and Hampstead with his daughter, Diane.  With son David, he operated an Exxon station in Timonium.  In 2009 Ralph was named to the Gasoline Dealers Hall of Fame by the Washington Maryland Delaware Service Station and Automotive Repair Assoc for his contributions to the industry.  He was a member of Mount Olive United Methodist Church, Randallstown, for 46 years, serving on the Board of Trustees for 30 years and Chair of the cemetery.  Ralph joined Gettysburg United Methodist Church in 2009. 

 

Surviving in addition to his wife are his son and daughter-in-law, David L. & Lisa P. Morgan of Woodbine, MD; daughter and son-in-law, Diane M. & Christopher S. Phillips of Manchester, MD; step-daughters and sons-in-law:  Shari & Wendell Miley, Woodsboro; Becki & Ritchie Enders, Halifax; sister-in-law, Elly Morgan of Tiverton, RI and brother & sister-in-law, Paul G. & Jane Morgan of Ellicott City, MD; sisters-in-law:  Olga Cock, Weslaco, TX; Connie M. Hawk, Taneytown; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rev. Dr. (Col Ret USA) Joel W. Cocklin and Kay Royer Cocklin, Findlay, OH; granddaughters:  Heather Morgan Colson & husband Buddy Colson and Claire Phillips; grandsons:  Michael Phillips, Nicholas Morgan, Brandon Morgan and Cole Phillips; great grandchildren: Caleb, Kaylee and Kyle Colson; step-grandchildren:  Dereck, Alycia, Bryce and Carter Enders and Mikayla & Caleb Miley as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his wife of 46 years, Pearl D. Morgan, brothers:  Kenneth C. Morgan and Commander Garner E. Morgan and brothers-in-law:  Neil D. Hawk and Charles M. Cock.

 

Viewing is Monday, Nov 2, from 5 – 8 P.M. at Little’s Funeral Home, 34 Maple Ave., Littlestown, PA.  Celebration of Life worship is Tues, Nov 3 at 11 A.M.  at Gettysburg United Methodist Church, 30 High St., Gettysburg with The Rev. Jay Zimmerman officiating.  Private inurnment is in Rose Hill Cemetery, Hagerstown.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to his church in Gettysburg, PA  17325 or Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of American, MD/CC/DE Chapter, PO Box 186, Pasadena, MD  21123-0186 or Mt. Olive Cemetery, Mt. Olive UMC, 5111 Old Court Rd., Randallstown, MD  21136.  Online condolences may be shared on www.littlesfh.com.