Ralph A. Friend

Ralph A. Friend Jr., retired school teacher and former education association president, died Aug. 1 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient since July 17.

Friend, 79, West Wyomissing, was the husband of Eleanor R. (Schadler) Friend.

He was employed for four years as a history teacher and 38 years as a seventh and eighth grade math teacher in the Wilson School District, retiring in 1989.

Friend was treasurer of the Wilson Education Association for five years and served as association president for seven years.

Born in Bethlehem, he was a son of the late Ralph A. Friend Sr. and Florence A. (Leibert) Friend.

Friend was a 1944 graduate of Liberty High School, Bethlehem, and a 1946 graduate of Moravian College, Bethlehem, with a bachelor's degree in history. He received a master's degree in business administration from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, in 1951.

He was a member of the Central Moravian Church, Bethlehem.

Friend was a past secretary-treasurer of the West Wyomissing Lions Club and the Midvale/West Wyomissing Lions Club.

He was secretary of the Spring Township/Wilson Lions Club.

Friend is also survived by three daughters: Carol A. (Friend) Flederbach, Honesdale, Wayne County; and Linda L. (Friend) Baker and Gloria J. Friend, both of Spring Township.

Other survivors include a sister, Carolyn A. Friend, Allentown.

There are also three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. in the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., West Reading. Friends may call from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m on Sunday at the Kuhn Funeral Home. Burial will be in Laureldale Cemetery, Tuckerton.