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Ray A. Dolph, Community Leader, Dies

Ray A. Dolph, Community Leader, Dies image
Parent Issue
Day
6
Month
March
Year
1956
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
Obituary
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Operated Funeral Home Here For 40 Years Until 1952
Ray A. Dolph, 70, a funeral director here for more than 40 years and a prominent Ann Arbor citizen, died this morning at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital after a long illness. His home was at 3060 Lakewood Dr.
Mr. Dolph was in the real estate business in Shaker Heights and Lakewood, O., before coming to Ann Arbor in 1908 to purchase the funeral home of the late Oliver M. Martin.
He operated the Dolph Funeral Home, first on Fourth Ave. for about 10 years and then on Maynard St. until September, 1952, when he retired and the building was leased to the University for use as television studios.
As a community leader, Mr. Dolph served as president of the Chamber of Commerce for one year. He also served at one time as fuel administrator for the state and county.
In the late 1920's, Mr. Dolph was the owner and developer of the Lakewood subdivision.
He was a member of the First Methodist Church, the Rotary Club, Ann Arbor Club, Knights Templar, Royal Arch Masons, Blue Lodge, Zal-Gaz Grotto, and Knights of Pythias.
He also belonged to national and state funeral directors associations, was president of the Super Realty Co., vice-president of the Ann Arbor Finance Co., and a member of the board of trustees of the Ann Arbor Building Association. He belonged to the Huron Hills Golf Club and the Washtenaw County Fair Society.
Mr. Dolph was educated at Ohio Northern University at Ada, O., where he studied business and law. He subsequently passed the embalming examinations in both Michigan and Ohio.
He was born Nov. 10, 1885, at Elmore, O., the son of Ellsworth and Ada Canniff Dolph. On Sept. 20, 1909, he married Olive Epkes of Toledo. She survives.
ALso surviving are a son, Prof. Charles L. Dolph of Ann Arbor; two grandsons; a brother, Clarence of Genoa, O.; and three sisters, Mrs. Lucy MacRitchie of Genoa, O., Mrs. Clara Burkett of Cleveland, O., and Mrs. Mae Martin of Bowling Green, O.
Cremation will follow private funeral services Friday at the Staffan-Hildinger Funeral Home. Friends may call after today.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart Fund.