Ralph Singleton Rode Jr.
1936 – 2025

Ralph Singleton Rode Jr., affectionately known as "Curly" for his once-vibrant red curls, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2025, at Martin Memorial South in Stuart, Florida—just two days shy of his 89th birthday. He often joked about being a "junior" well into old age, always quick to bring humor to life's moments.

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Ralph grew up in the Keystone State before serving his country during a peacetime military tour in France. There, he traveled extensively through Europe and found himself with the unlikely duty of documenting sex workers, distributing protection, and overseeing STD testing—a responsibility he recalled with equal parts amusement and incredulity.

In the early 1970s, Ralph married Carol Jane Wagner Rode and, in an instant, became a father figure to Beth (7) and Scott (9). Just three weeks after the wedding, the new family relocated from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, to São Paulo, Brazil, for Ralph's work as an Industrial Manufacturing Engineer with the Philco Ford Motor Company. His steady hand and adventurous spirit helped anchor the family through their South American chapter, leaving Beth and Scott with indelible memories and lifelong admiration.

Ralph retired in 1995 after 30 years with Ford and settled into a well-earned retirement at Lost Lake in Hobe Sound, Florida, alongside Carol. Together they built a rich life filled with friendships, frequent dinners, cruising, and laughter. Ralph was always delivering a perfectly timed joke, or cracking wise about growing older: "Only the good die young—so I must be really bad."

He was an avid sports fan, passionately cheering for his favorite teams—the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles—regardless of how heartbreaking the seasons might have been. He was a lover of bridge, fishing and crossword puzzles, and a bright light at every family gathering. Above all, Ralph was a devoted husband and the primary caregiver to Carol in recent years, showing the same love and steadiness that defined his life.

Ralph is survived by his beloved wife, Carol; his children, Scott Robert MacGillivray and Beth Ann Fuller (M. Kevin David Fuller); two grandchildren, Kara Fuller and Ali Craddock (M. Dave Craddock); and two great-grandchildren, Alexa and Alaina Craddock. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edna Rode and Ralph Singleton Rode Sr., and often remarked—half joking, half amazed—that he had never expected to live a life longer than his parents had.

A crypt side memorial service will be held in his honor on May 2, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Forest Hills Memorial Park & Palm City Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Treasure Coast Hospice and the American Cancer Society.

Those who knew Ralph will remember his warmth, wit, and the twinkle in his eye that suggested he was always in on the joke. His legacy lives on in the family he loved, the laughter he shared, and the lives he quietly shaped through kindness and strength.