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Ralph Paul Kearns

Ralph Paul Kearns, 84, of Dry Valley Road, Lewistown, passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Ohesson Manor.

Born on Nov. 25, 1932, in Derry Township, Mifflin County, he was a son of the late Hugh Beaver Kearns and B. Pauline (Landis) Kearns. He is survived by his wife, Lola (Henry) Kearns, whom he married Aug. 18, 1952.

Surviving are his sons, Brian R. Kearns and wife, Susan, and Nelson P. Kearns, of Lewistown, and his grandchildren, Jason Kearns and wife, Amy, of Colorado, Megan Davis and husband, John, Lindsay Shatto and husband, Eric, JohnPaul Kearns, Timothy Kearns, and Lisa Hopple and husband, Bradley, all of Mifflin County. He is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren, his son-in-law, Stephen L. Burd, of California, and a brother, Rev. Carl H. Kearns and wife, Phyllis, of New Jersey.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, E. Christine Burd, in 1975.

Ralph was a graduate of the Derry Township High School in 1950 and was a life-long and third-generation farmer on the land in Dry Valley.

He was a life member of the Little Valley Presbyterian Church in Vira, where he served as an elder and as a trustee for many years. He was influential in organizing the Little Valley Cemetery Association. Ralph was a member of the Lewistown Masonic Lodge No. 203, Jaffa Shrine, and Harrisburg Consistory. He served as a director of the Derry Township Planning Commission for many years. In the distant past, he was a member of the Mifflin County Jaycees, a 4-H leader, a director of the Mifflin County Youth Park, the chairman of the original Youth Park Building Committee, and a director of the Farmers’ Milk Hauling Co-op. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Mifflin County Farmers’ Association. Ralph enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his friends and family, and he was well known for his creative problem-solving skills.

His funeral will be held at 11 a.m., on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at the Little Valley Presbyterian Church in Vira, with the Rev. James Park Bricker and Rev. Robert L. Zorn officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Ralph’s name to the church at 1392 Vira Road, Lewistown, PA 17044. For online condolences visit bohnfuneralhome.com.