Ralph Vincent Mclaughlin, Sr

Ralph Vincent McLaughlin, Sr., 88, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The relatives and friends of Ralph V. McLaughlin, Sr. are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 888 King Street, Charleston. The Rite of Committal will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on James Island. The family will receive friends between 5:00 and 7:00 PM Tuesday, with a 6:30 Rosary, at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston.Ralph was a native Charlestonian and a true Southern Gentleman.  He was born at his home on Magazine St. April 19, 1928.  He was the youngest of four sons of John F. and Marguerite (Behlmer) McLaughlin.  Ralph attended Memminger Grammar School and Charleston High School.  He then attended Charleston Vocational School where he became a Master Plumber and carried on his father’s business started in 1925. The family business still exists today. Ralph was so proud of the beautiful city he was lucky to call home all his life and loved to share its rich history with anyone who had time to listen. He never met a stranger and would often stop people on the Battery to see where they were from. In his 88 years of life, he saw many changes to his beloved home town and loved to tell stories of what “used to be”.  Ralph’s proudest achievement and joy in life was his family.  He was a loving, devoted husband to Jean for 55 years and proud and committed father to his six children, who miss him so much already.  Some of our fondest memories are the family trips we took, boating, skiing and shrimping on the Battery.  He loved to sail and in his glory days could be found either being rescued by the Coast Guard after capsizing in a storm in the harbor or racing his novelty-craft “auxiliary” out-rigger, “The Pee Wee” across Colonial Lake. Ralph was a man of strong values and faith.  He was a member of Sacred Heart Church where he and Jean were married in 1954.  He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves. Ralph was predeceased by his parents, John F. and Marguerite (Behlmer) McLaughlin, three brothers, James, John, and Donald McLaughlin, his beautiful, loving bride, Jean (LeaMond) McLaughlin, his beloved son, Michael F. McLaughlin and many in-laws.  Ralph is survived by his five children: Kathy M. Steinmeyer (Bill Ashe), Jeannie M. Mills (Vince), Ralph V. McLaughlin, Jr., Patricia A. McLaughlin (John Ricci), and Christopher J. McLaughlin (Shannon), 16 grandchildren, to whom he was the best role model, Andrew (Carrie) and Kate S. Daniel (Adam), Parras Ashe, Ryan, Nicholas and Brittany Mills, Ralph III (Kim), Scott (Leslie), Jonathan (Lauren) Benjamin McLaughlin, Robbie Forte, Bridget N. McLaughlin, Elizabeth and Hunter Hendricks, Mary Parker and Christopher McLaughlin and six great-grandchildren, Walker, Emma, Maggie, Hannah, Clair, and Juliet, and one sister-in-law, Catherine L. “Kit” Dunlap.   We wish to express our deepest gratitude for the loving, compassionate care given to dad by his long-term caregiver, Tina Edwards.    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made either to the Alzheimer’s Association South Carolina Chapter, 4124 Clemson Blvd – Suite L, Anderson, SC 29621, or to East Cooper Meals on Wheels, www.ecmow.org.