Obituary of Ralph F. Conrad

Ralph F. "Sonny" Conrad, age 78 of Pennsville died Wednesday May 6, 2015 at Southgate Care Center, Carneys Point. He was born in Pennsville and was the son of the late Ralph A. and Helen J. Garrison Conrad. Survived by Ann Morgan, children, Joseph Conrad, Lisa Conrad Pratta and her Fiancée Jeffrey Sparks, Jamie Wright and her husband Wesley, Missey Morgan and her husband Tom Studebaker. Siblings, Karen Cooksey and her husband John, Gerald Conrad and his wife Colleen, Donald Conrad and his wife JoAnn, grandchildren, Trevor, Travis, Samantha, Tyler, Julie and Connor. Predeceased by a brother, Stanley Conrad. Ralph was a world-class athlete, having held the world record in speed skating. He was the National Roller Speed Skating Champion for seven consecutive titles. After graduating from Penns Grove High School in 1955, Ralph was voted most valuable player in both baseball and football at Valley Forge Military Academy. Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school, he chose instead to go to college at Northwestern Louisiana University. While at Northwestern he was named all-conference halfback and outstanding back in football and all conference center fielder in baseball. He played semi-pro football for the Swedesboro Devils and semi-pro baseball for Parkway. During his eighteen years at Parkway he held the batting championship for 6 years and was on the all-star team 12 times. He accomplished 751 hits, scored 474 runs and batted in an additional 365 runs. He held a batting average of .408. He was inducted into the Salem County Hall of Fame in 2002 and the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Best remembered as "Coach Conrad" by his students at Penns Grove High School. Ralph taught physical education for over 25 years and he coached baseball, football and softball. He also taught and coached at Pennsville and Eastern High Schools. Aside from being captain of many of his sport teams, he was also known as Captain Ralph of the charter fishing boat "The Buccaneer." Thousands of fishermen caught the big one with Ralph at the helm in the Delaware Bay. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM on Saturday May 9, at the Laughrey Funeral Home, Pennsville where friends may call from 10:00 to 11:00 AM prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Lawnside Cemetery, Woodstown. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Diabetes Association. www.laughreyfuneralhome.com.