Ralph Edward Specht

Ralph Edward Specht, age 82 of Mahomet, IL, died Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Dresden, TN. He passed peacefully listening to his favorite gospel hymns and with Anita holding his hand.

He retired after 35 years from the University of Illinois where he worked as the foreman of the mill shop.  Ralph was a member of Mahomet United Methodist Church and served in the National Guard.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge & the Ansar Shriners.  Ralph was a character who loved to laugh, pull practical jokes, spend time with family and friends. Time spent laughing with Ralph was always time well spent.  He enjoyed crappie fishing, hunting morel mushrooms, deer hunting, and playing golf by his own rules…‘That one’s a give me!’
 
Ralph was born July 27, 1940, in Bible Grove, IL, to the late Lowell Specht and the late Dora Jane Carter Specht.
 
He was married November 24, 1963, to Anita Yeazel Specht, who survives, of Paris.
 
Along with his wife, he is also survived by two daughters, Angela Specht Beals of Buchanan, TN, and Michele (Steve) Strode of Dresden, TN; three sisters, Lucile Elkins of Fisher, IL, Wanda (Junior) Grindley of Mahomet, IL, and Linda (Ron) McCorkle of Cedar Grove, NC; one brother, Roscoe (Julie) Specht of Rantoul, IL; one sister-in-law, Jerri Specht of Mahomet, IL; six grandsons, Griffin (Mary Kirk) Strode, Greyson Strode, Grant (Becca Kubin) Strode, Parker (Miranda) Perrero, Carson (Nadine) Perrero, and Westin Perrero; and six great grandchildren, Eli, Hudson, Rapheal, Tilden, Harrison, Mishika (born 3/14/2023), and one due in May. Ralph’s grandsons were his pride and joy.  Ralph had many nieces and nephews and family friends who meant the world to him.  No one was a stranger at Ralph and Anita’s house, everyone was welcome.
 
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Barrow and Lowetta Martin; one brother, Jim Specht; and two brothers-in-law, Gene Martin and Kenneth Elkins.   
 
Local arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St, Paris, TN.  The body is to be cremated. 
 
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 1, 2023, at the Mahomet United Methodist Church, 1302 E South Mahomet Rd, Mahomet, IL 61853, with Rev. Lori Harvey officiating. The visitation will start at 10 AM with a service starting at 12 PM.
 
Burial of cremains will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Champaign, IL at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Siteman Cancer Center St. Louis, MO and Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.