Ralph Allen Lancey

Ralph Allen Lancey, 76, of Rochester, NH, loving father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away on Thursday, November 15, 2018. He slipped away peacefully surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Ralph was born on Friday November 13, 1942 in Orange, Massachusetts. Ralph was the son of Mabel (Shattuck) Lancey and Albert Lancey. Ralph went to school in Rochester, NH and joined the United States Air Force at a young age. He served four years including a tour in Vietnam. Ralph worked for many years as an industrial cleaner nights, so that he might spend his days watching his family grow. He spent many years volunteering in youth sports, coaching baseball, basketball, and football. He had a passion for coaching and cheering on young athletes. Ralph loved spending time with his wife Doreen. They were always together enjoying family time, dancing, laughing and playing cards with friends. Ralph and Doreen raised their family in Rochester and then retired to Florida where they spent many years together. He lost Doreen in December of 2009. He has missed her terribly over the last nine years. He was looking forward to seeing her again. Ralph was a kind and compassionate man with an incredibly huge heart. He loved to make others smile. It was not uncommon to see Ralph chatting with a small child, joking with a fellow man, flirting with a woman, or teasing a smile out of a downtrodden soul. Everyone Ralph met was an instant friend. Even on his last day he asked the nurse to stay, he wanted to get to know her better.  He would tell you he loved to "cuss" and he loved the beauty of a pregnant woman. Ralph was a funny, forgiving, and loving man. He may not have been a wealthy man, but he was very generous with what he had. He would give the shirt off of his back to someone if they needed it. In lieu of flowers or donations, if you would like to remember Ralph, his family requests that you pay it forward in his honor. Do an act of kindness for someone in the upcoming months.  It does not matter how big or small, it would make us happy to know that someone is feeling as loved as he made us feel. Ralph is survived by his son Thomas and Andrea Lancey of Rochester, NH,  Gwen Lancey of Milton, NH, Paula and Joe Mayo of Leesburg, FL, Wendy Duval of Grapevine, TX, Shelly Goodwin and Darcy Dore of Sanford, ME. His grandchildren included Allen and Aaron Dore, Nathan, Zachary, and Isaac Lancey, Kenney and Nicole Goodwin, David Pappas and Karissa Plante, Brittany Jean, Meghan and Travis Mayo, Cade, Jack and Luke Duval, 15 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Ralph was predeceased by his wife Doreen E. Lancey.