Granville – Ralph Howard Dickinson, (1930 – 2016) 
85, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on Friday September 23, 2016. Born on September 29, 1930 in Westfield, MA, he was a son of Bernice and Lempie (Kallio) Dickinson. Ralph was a graduate of Westfield Trade School and went on to serve his country honorably in the U.S. Army serving in the Korean War.
Throughout his career, Ralph was employed with the John S. Lane & Son Trap Rock Quarry for 42 years as a heavy equipment operator. He was a longtime member of the Granville Federated Church, the Southwick Randsford Kellogg VFW and the Local #98 Retirees Club. He also belonged to The Grange in Granville where he enjoyed playing in the pitch league. In earlier years, Ralph was proud to be an alternate on the Board of Appeals in Granville and enjoyed the time he spent coaching his daughters on the Granville recreational softball team. He was always known to lend a helping hand to anyone in need and was quite the mechanic. Ralph was often found fixing many cars, lawn mowers and snow blowers out of the kindness of his heart. Always being so thoughtful and helpful, Ralph even made sure his children knew the many secrets to being self-sufficient so that they could not only help themselves, but others as well.
Ralph was an avid Red Sox and Patriots Fan and often enjoyed a good word search or puzzle. He will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 61 years, Patty (Clark) Dickinson; his four children, Susan L. Scantlen and her husband Michael, Linda M. Dickinson, Peter H. Dickinson and his wife Laura and Beth A. DeGrande and her husband Joe; his seven adored grandchildren, Karri White, Nicholas Dickinson, Vincent and Justin Ward and Joseph, Michael and Chris DeGrande; four great-grandchildren, Kaleb DeGrande, Gabriel and Mallory White and Jackson Ward; his sisters, Lucy Aspinall and Jennie Maceyka and by many nieces, nephews and dear friends over the years.
Ralph always said he was “fair to middlin” – Ralph we wish you fair to middlin’.
Family and friends are invited to meet for visitation on Wednesday September 28th from 10:15am – 12:15pm at the Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home, 624 College Hwy., followed by a 12:15pm service in the funeral home. Committal services with Military Honors will follow at 2:00 PM in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St., Agawam. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ralph’s Memory to the Alzheimer’s Association – MA/NH Chapter, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 or to the Community Food Pantry, 220 College Hwy, Southwick, MA 01077. www.forastiere.com
