Top Banner for Ralph McGillan Obituary
Ralph McGillan Obituary

Brought to you by Saul Funeral Homes

Ralph McGillan

Cranbury, New Jersey

May 27, 1937 - August 1, 2022

Ralph McGillan Obituary

Ralph R. McGillan of North Fort Myers, Florida and Wethersfield, Connecticut passed into eternal life in the Arms of the Lord on August 1, 2022 Formerly of Cranbury, NJ and Fort Fairfield, ME, Ralph was the son of Lemuel and Alice (Ferguson) McGillan born on May 27, 1937 in Tilley N.B., Canada. His family moved to Fort Fairfield, ME when he was 8 years old. Ralph graduated from Fort Fairfield High School in 1956 where he excelled in basketball and baseball. Ralph served in the Army National Guard for seven years as a tank commander. He had a lifetime membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Hightstown, New Jersey where he offered his excavation services for various jobs at the Lodge. Ralph was a member for over 50 years. Ralph started his own business in New Jersey in 1967. He truly loved his job building lakes and ponds on golf courses and large estates, sometimes working on as many as three golf courses in one year. His most famous job was at Pine Valley Golf Course. Ralph gave 100 percent in all that he did for his clients for over 50 years. He was a member of the New Jersey Golf Course Superintendent's Association. He was always available to offer his expertise and knowledge as he developed many professional friendships with the golf course superintendents throughout New Jersey and New York. Ralph was a loving Father and Grandfather, always making time to help his children and their families in any way that he could. Ralph was a man of honor and integrity who truly loved life. He was a very positive thinker and made a difference in the lives of everyone that he touched. He is survived by his son, Michael McGillan and his wife, Jody; his daughter, Stephanie Cawley and her husband, Kevin; and his son, Peter McGillan and his wife, Ellie; his beloved 11 grandchildren: Matthew, Zachary and Thomas McGillan, Jillian, Austin and Kaitlyn Cawley and Daniel, Chase, Nathan, Emily and Cassandra McGillan; his partner, Carolyn Carey, with whom he shared a wonderful retirement playing golf and traveling; his brothers, Fred and Guy; and his sisters, Mary Dorsey and Grace Burleigh. A Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 10:00 am at Saint Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, 156 Maxwell Ave, Hightstown, New Jersey 08520, followed by interment at Brainerd-Westminster Cemetery in Cranbury, New Jersey. Visitation for friends and family will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. Memorial Donations may be sent to: Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT 06107 Attn: Rev. David Cinquegrani, C.P. Arrangements are under the direction of A.S. Cole Son & Co. Funeral Home, 22 North Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.

To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Ralph McGillan hosted by Saul Funeral Homes.

Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Ralph McGillan.