Ralph Donald Ayres,
age 67 of Chesterton, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.
Ralph was born in
New York City, New York, on September 12, 1948 to Robert and Olga (MacKenzie)
Ayres who precede him in death.
Ralph is survived
by his sister, Donna P. Brown of Chesterton, brother, Charles H. Ayres of
Portage, IN; nephews, Robert H. Ayres and Alec J. Ayres of Portage, IN; dear
and lifelong friend, Barbara J. Stroud from Chesterton, IN; aunts, Diane
Mackenzie of St. John, IN, and Olga Mackenzie of Lafayette, IN, and numerous
cousins.
Ralph has been a
Chesterton resident since 1956. He graduated in 1966 from Chesterton High
School. He attended Indiana University where he received his bachelor’s
degree in 1970 and his master’s degree in 1972. In his senior year at IU he
received the Elvis J. Stahr Distinguished Senior Award. He was honored by
his students with the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1979 and 1986. He
received the Duneland Education Service Award in 2004, Indiana Outstanding
Young Hoosiers Award 1979 by the Jaycees, the Duneland Chamber Citizen of
the year in 2001, Paul Harris Fellowship from the Chesterton/Porter Rotary,
and was given the Sagamore of the Wabash by then Governor Orr in 1986.
He was elected to
the Porter County Council and served from 1978 to 1980. He was elected to
the Indiana House of Representatives and served from 1980 to 2006. Upon his
retirement he became Director of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association
for two years. He was serving as a volunteer with the Porter County Youth
Service Bureau, AARP, the Porter County Retired Teachers, and at the present
time was the President of the Duneland School Board.
Visitation will be
held on Sunday, April 3, 2016, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Chesterton
High School Auditorium, 2125 S. 11th Street, Chesterton, IN, 46304. Private
graveside services will be held at Chesterton Cemetery, Chesterton, IN.
Memorials may be
made to the charity of the donor’s choice with a slant towards children and
education.