Labarge, Ralph T.

DELMAR - Ralph Thomas LaBarge passed away peacefully on September 25, 2021
at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY after a short illness at age 91. Ralph
was born in Pittsfield, MA and was a long-time resident of Delmar, NY.

He is
survived by his loving wife of sixty-five years Eleanor from Glenmont, NY, his
children, Eileen LaBarge of Delmar, NY, Pierre and Amy LaBarge of North Bend,
WA, Andrew and Amy LaBarge of Johnsonville, NY, Matt and Felicia LaBarge of
Paducah, KY, his sister Dianne Fairbanks of Traverse City, MI, nine
grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his
parents, Henry and Margaret LaBarge, his siblings Paul LaBarge and Joanne
Mineau, and his precious daughter, Theresa Flansburg, and son-in-law Steve
Flansburg.

Ralph
survived polio as a teen and after graduating from Pittsfield High, he served
in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee in Nova Scotia, Canada. Ralph worked for many
years as a carpenter and foreman for Van Woert and Sons, of Delmar, who
developed Kenholm and other neighborhoods of Bethlehem. As a devout and lifelong
parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle church, he helped steward Boy Scout Troop
71 for nearly 15 years. He was awarded the Silver Beaver, scouting's highest
volunteer honor in service to youth leadership and the Scouting community at
large.

After retirement Ralph and Eleanor traveled many
times around the US including Alaska and Canada in their RV forming countless
friendships along the way. For years they shared time spending winters in
Wesely Chapel, Florida, and summers in Alburg, Vermont. Ralph never shied from
sharing his master builder skills with his community and was always there to
lend a hand or a tool to those in need. Ralph gave from his hands and his heart
to all who crossed his path.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday,
September 29, 2021 at 9:30 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 35 Adams Place,
Delmar. Masks are required. A procession to Calvary Cemetery will immediately follow. Ralph’s favorite food, ice cream, will be served.

For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to German Shepherd Rescue of NY, P.O. Box 242, Delmar, NY 12054 GSRNY.org.