Ralph was a craneman at the Franklin Plant. of Cambria Steel. He was killed in a work incident when he attempted to place rosin on a large belt connected to a grinding machine. His coat became caught in the rapidly revolving band on a shaft 15 feet above the floor. He was then whirled around and around, his body striking a beam. He was carried around the beam several times before his coworkers could shut off the power. Ralph normally was employed running a 50 ton crane, but as a secondary duty he was stationed grinding shear blades, where the incident occurred. Ralph died of a fractured vertebrae and internal injuries.