Louis Ralph Charles, 93, of Stillwater, died January 21, 2026, in Perry, Oklahoma. A visitation will be 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Strode Funeral Home with a graveside service following at 12:30 p.m. in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Ralph was born on September 7, 1933, to Thomas Chester Charles and Lauretta Katherine Ehly in Redwing, Kansas. He spent his early years in Beaver, Kansas before moving with his mother and stepfather A.P. Bradley to a farm southeast of Stillwater. Ralph's strength and his values of working hard and caring for his family were developed through life on the family farm with his parents and six siblings.

Ralph attended a small country school as a child, sometimes riding a horse to get there, and graduated from Stillwater High School. He left during his senior year to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. and returned to finish his final graduation requirements after serving three years in Korea during the Korean War. His wartime experiences had a deep impact on him, making him grateful for everything he would ever have back home.

He married his high school sweetheart Carol Jean Purscell on January 23, 1952, in Stillwater, OK. They would spend 74 years loving and caring for each other. Ralph and Carol had five children and lived in National City, CA before settling back home in Stillwater in the 1970s.

Ralph survived two helicopter crashes while serving in Korea as a naval courier who delivered secret and confidential information between units. The hearing loss he suffered as a result put his dream of working in law enforcement out of reach, but Ralph had a family to support, and he often worked several jobs at a time while the family lived in California, including a stint in a department store men's tailoring shop. Upon returning to Oklahoma, he had a career with the City of Stillwater and retired as a municipal employee in Waste Management. Two of his sons would follow him into a career in public service.

Ralph was a bowler who earned several trophies over the years, but he was probably most known for the pride he took in his lawn and his love of gardening. He was "farm boy strong" and into his seventies he could be found outside in all types of weather, outworking men half his age. He was a member of Eagle Heights Baptist Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Chester Charles, Lauretta Kathleen (Ehly) Bradley, and A.P. Bradley, and his siblings Jake Bradley, Sarah Bradley Officer and Chester "Chet" Charles.

He is survived by his wife Carol Jean (Purscell) Charles and his children Ralph Louis Charles and his wife Pauline of Miami, Jack Walton Charles and his wife Barbara of Stillwater, Cathy Lynn (Charles) Brown and her husband Kirk of Cushing, Robert Dean "Bob" Charles and his wife Michelle of Stillwater and John Alan Charles and his wife Kamera of Perkins, 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings LaVerne Willis Bradley, Lael Lauretta (Bradley) Craddock, and Beverly Jean Bradley, as well as a large extended family.

The family would like to thank the staff of Perry Green Valley Nursing Home.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions can be made to VFW Ollie O. Dykes Post 2027 in Stillwater.