Ralph H. Charlton, Sr., age 66 of West Jefferson, NC went home to be with his Lord on Monday, September 7, 2009, at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. He was born on January 30, 1943, in Sewickley, PA to the late Benjamin Franklin Charlton and the late Ruth Baldwin Pettit. Ralph graduated from East Washington High School, Washington, PA in 1960, and Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA in 1964, with a B.S. in Chemistry. He was a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Army and a veteran of the Vietnam War. His career included three years with Northwestern Mutual and twenty-eight years with CIGNA Corporation, retiring in 1994, as Eastern Regional Vice President of CIGNA Dental Health. During his career, he lived in Barkhamsted and Bloomfield, CT; Parkland and Jacksonville, FL; and was a member of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church. His lifelong devotion was to his God, his family and his friends. He was a quiet helper and a faithful and humble servant. Ralph is survived by his loving wife, Sherrill Kurtz Charlton; his devoted children, son, Ralph Charlton, Jr. (Jola) of Green Springs Cove, FL; daughter, Anne Orlandi-Rocha (Nick) of Jacksonville, FL; his precious grandchildren, Chase Russell and Lindsey Elizabeth Charlton, Taylor Renee Orlandi; brother, John Pettit (Paula) of Washington, PA; sister, Betty Jean Closser (Jim) of Cottage Grove, OR. A memorial service to celebrate Ralph's life will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 2 PM at the Boone Family Funeral Home Chapel in West Jefferson, NC. Memorial contributions may be made to: Children's Trust Endowment in c/o Ashe County Cooperative Extension: Ashe County Center, 134 Government Circle, Suite 202, Jefferson, NC 28640; Ashe Really Cares, 626 Ashe Central School Road, Jefferson, NC 28640; or to Hospice of Ashe, PO Box 421, Jefferson, NC 28640.