Ralph O. Froelich

Ralph O. Froelich, Age 82, of Big Pond and Tampa, FL, passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at Williamsport Regional Medical Center. Ralph was born October 18, 1931 in Evansville Indiana into a musical family son of the late Jacob & Elizabeth (Wagner) Froelich. Ralph served his country with the US Army. He was a graduate of Julliard School of Music and was a professional classical musician. Everyone in Ralph’s family played piano or sang. In the 5th grade his school had an orchestra and a band. The family owned a French horn and a trumpet. He wanted to play the trumpet because his older brother did, but he and his mother tried to fix the family trumpet with a screwdriver they put the screwdriver into the valve and it could no longer be played, so he had to play the French horn. In his Junior year of high school he went to Chicago where he met Walter Handle. That meeting changed his life forever by him being accepted into the Julliard Orchestra. When he graduated from Julliard he began his career as a chamber musician. He was very well known around the world. Ralph played all over the world as a chamber musician and soloist. The United States Cultural Attaché sent his group to Russia, South America, and the Far East and to Europe yearly as a soloist and in a woodwinds quintet as a representative of the United States Culture in all of these places. He performed for local people, Kings and Queens. He was made a Knight in a country that is no longer a friend to America, there was no castle so we can’t move back.  He was also retired from the University of South Florida where he was a professor of music.
Family and friends are invited to a memorial service to honor Ralph’s life on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Big Pond United Methodist Church.
Ralph was married to the former Marilyn A. Laughlin and they have celebrated 54 years of marriage. Surviving in addition to Marilyn are a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas (Tracy) Froelich of Canton, PA a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Claire (Brian) Price of Panama City Beach, FL, three grandchildren, Owen Froelich, Elden Froelich and Louise Price a sister Louise Froelich of Austin, TX, several nieces, nephews and friends.
Ralph was predeceased by his parents, two brothers Henry and Richard Froelich and a sister Katheryn.
Memorial contributions in Ralph’s name may be made to the Big Pond Cemetery, c/o Dilman Dunbar 84 Dubert Road, Columbia Cross Roads, PA 16914.
Send condolence to Vickeryfuneralhome.com

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