Ralph Edward Dow

Ralph Edward Dow, 83, passed away at his home near Buggy Brook on March 6, 2021. Ralph was born on August 1, 1937, to Augustus and Elsie (Smart) Dow.
After graduation from Fort Kent High School in 1954, Ralph attended college in Youngstown, Ohio for three years. He later enlisted in the U.S Air Force and served his country proudly for the next 25 years. He was sent to Yale University to learn Chinese, and then served in Okinawa, Italy, and Vietnam as a French and Mandarin translator. He earned the 'Distinguished Flying Cross' for combat duty during the Vietnam War. After retiring from the military, he lived in Cape Romanzof, Alaska, working for RCA as a radio technician about twelve miles from the Russian shores.
When Ralph returned home intermittently for some R&R from his military life, he spent his time at his camp on Wallagrass Lake. It was where he reacquainted himself with civilian life, his brothers and their growing families, and his home state of Maine. He spent many mornings in his fishing boat "going to church", many afternoons playing cards with friends, and many evenings enjoying the serenity and solitude only achieved at his beloved "Wallagrass."
Ralph is survived by his brother, Allan (Patricia) of Fort Kent; his sisters, Dora Rutherford of Toledo, Ohio, and Doris Andrews of Hanover, Pennsylvania. He was predeceased by his brothers, Henry Dow and Drew Dow (Joan). He was simply known as "Uncle" or "Mon Oncle" to his local nieces and nephews, Dawn, Doug, Amy, Chris, Jocelyn, Melanie, Smitty, Chuck, and Sylvia; and "Ralph" to his Midwest nephews, David, Dan, and Randy, and his southern nieces, Debbie and Melanie. Ralph had many childhood friends whom he was blessed to enjoy retirement with in Northern Maine. Ralph was a quiet man with simple needs, a jolly laugh, and a kind soul. When a deer wanders out on the shore of the lake, when an eagle soars above scanning the landscape, when we get a tug on our fishing line, when a partridge crosses our path on a Sunday, or when we "have a cake in the over", we will fondly remember this man whom we so loved, respected, and admired.
In keeping with Ralph's wishes, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 45 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04101, or charity of one's choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lajoie-Daigle Funeral Home.