Plymouth, Vermont

Ralph Joseph Michael, 81, died Monday December 28, 2020 at the Rutland Regional Medical Center.

Ralph was born on September 13, 1939 at home in Plymouth, Vermont the son of Arnold Joseph and Violette M. (Derby) Michael. He attended the one-room school in Plymouth Notch and Black River High School, where he graduated in 1956.

Following high school Ralph attended Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont to study engineering. He graduated from Norwich in 1960 with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering and received an officer's commission in the United States Army. Ralph served in the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from 1960-1963, and upon returning home to Vermont continued service with the Army Reserves until 1968.

In 1967, Ralph met and married Judy, the love of his life. They would share 53 wonderful years of marriage.

After the Army, Ralph worked for the Vermont Highway Department for five years as a project engineer during the construction of the Interstate highways. In 1969, Ralph founded his engineering firm, Michael Engineering Company which he operated for over 50 years. During this time, he worked as an engineer and professional land surveyor on projects large and small throughout Vermont.

Ralph was a member of the Vermont Society of Land Surveyors and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was a gentle man with a hard working, detail oriented spirit, and he enjoyed woodworking, gardening, landscaping, stone walls and Judy's home cooking.

Ralph is survived by his wife Judith (Balestra) Michael, his daughter Michelle, son Jeremy, his 5 grandchildren; Juliette Michael, Elliot Michael, Caleb Spraque, Alexa Dailey and Eva Dailey, his brother Rudolph, and sisters Mary Ann Underhill and Marilyn Seward. In addition to his parents he is pre deceased by a brother, Rodney and a sister Marguerita Hutt.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday August 14, 2021 at 11:00am in the Plymouth Notch Church Cemetery in Plymouth, Vermont.

Those wishing may make memorial donations to the VT Society of Land Surveyors Educational Fund or the Rutland County Humane Society.

The Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock is assisting the family. An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com