Obituary of Ralph Thomas Fortune Sr.

Ralph Thomas Fortune, Sr., Age 96 of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, went to be with his Lord on November 9, 2023. 

He was born in Milton, Florida on January 31, 1927 to Thomas Jefferson Fortune and Lydia Elizabeth Fortune.  He married Jessie Pearl Fortune, whom he loved and adored for the past 70 years.

The first thing that he would want in his biography would be to ask his wife of 70 years “Have I told you how much I Love you today? I Love you so much Jessie Pearl!”

He spent 2 years in the Army at the end of World War II, spending time in Germany before returning home. A few years later in 1953 he then began a career of 39 years working for Centel Telephone Company retiring after sprint bought out the company in 1993. He loved to tell and share stories and when he did you would never be surprised with what he said next, he loved to laugh and make others laugh. He was devout in his faith and Love of the Lord. He lived life setting an example of caring for others, their home was always opened to young people from their church throughout the years. He loved his family and nothing brought him more joy than his Grand and Great Grand Children, he loved to spend time and spoil them. He felt it was important to know and pass on your family’s history keeping records and passing that knowledge through pictures, stories and records of our family tree through the years. He always had a saying for everything, if you ever spent much time with Ralph and asked how he was you have been asked “have you ever been hit in the face with a wet Squirrel?"

Ralph is survived by his Loving wife of 70 years Jessie Pearl Fortune; children, Ralph Thomas Fortune, Jr.,Kathy Rooks (Husband Phillip Rooks), Vicki Fortune and Christopher Fortune (Christine Fortune); Grandchildren, Jeremy Fortune, Joseph Fortune, Jessi Rooks, Kelley Fortune, Brandon Fortune, Brittany Fortune, Skyler Rooks, Jessica Teabout, Dylan Ivers , Geoffrey Ivers; great-grandchildren, Justin Fortune, Ethan Fortune, Tatiana Fortune, Cameron Fortune, Easton Fortune, Cadence Ruskowski, Kimber Ruskowski, Ryder Rooks, Olivia Rooks, Valhala Fortune, Evie Fortune; Sisters, Naomi Hershberger and Ruth Bills; Sister in-law's, Kate Money, Bobbie Winchester; Brother in-law, Don Cumbie(Barbra Cumbie). Along with numerous Nephews and Nieces whom he loved dearly.

He was prececed in death by his parents, Thomas Jefferson and Lydia Elizabeth Fortune; daughter, Lydia Lola Fortune; brother, Cleveland Fortune along with many close members of his family, both by blood and marriage.

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