Edwin "Ralph" Brock

Edwin "Ralph" Brock, Jr. LTCol, US Army, Retired. passed into the arms of Jesus on May 24, 2024. Ralph was a true Patriot who loved God, Family, Friends and Country above all else. He was born on October 2,1948 to the late Edwin and Pauline Brock of McDonald. He was a 1966 graduate of Bradley Central High, very active in FFA earning the American Farmer Degree and a 1970 graduate of UT Knoxville with a degree in Horticulture and Landscaping, commissioned a 2LT in the US Army leaving for active duty in May 1971. His Army career spanned 21 years with assignments in Alaska, Ft. Belvoir, VA, Ft. Campbell, KY, St. Louis, MO, Germany, Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA and the Pentagon and Washington, DC. He was the recipient of numerous medals, awards and citations. Upon retirement, he returned to his grandfather's farm in McDonald and built Brockhaus, a German-style black forest house, running a Bed and Breakfast, farming, landscaping, group hayrides and growing and selling at the local Farmer's Markets. He loved his sheep, his dogs and his Belgian horses, especially MAC. Ralph was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church and was very involved in Missions, leading 10 teams to India from Ooltewah United Methodist Church (OUMC) where he had been a member since 1992. He was a leader for Early Response Teams for the Holston Conference training clean-up teams for hurricane, tornado and flood relief and participated in numerous work teams in Florida, the Gulf Coast and areas closer to home.

He leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Sandra Hardwick Brock of McDonald, son Jonathan Brock of Cleveland, sisters Diana (Tommy) Ledford and Susan (Bill) Conway of McDonald and Janet (Marty) Pearson of Ooltewah, special Aunt and Uncle Don and Charlotte Albritton of McDonald, sisters-in-laws Melva Jean King and Martha (Dean) Skelton of Cleveland and Diane (Jack) Arnold of Greenbrier, TN, special friends Claire Overmyer and Paul and Pam Wells. Also surviving are aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, Open Door small group members and Mission team at OUMC, many other close friends and his bassets Lucy and Henry. Special thanks to the staff of Brookdale Memory Care and Hearth Hospice Nurse Rachel whom he loved dearly and they loved and took special care of him.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 31st from 4pm - 6pm at Ooltewah United Methodist Church in Ooltewah with a Celebration of Life to follow at 6pm. Service will be led by OUMC Pastor Micah Nicolaus and Reverend Peter Pereira, Director of Hope for Today in India.

He lived by these words: Acts 1:8 "And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

In lieu of flowers, request donations be made to OUMC Missions, 6131 Relocation Way, Ooltewah, TN 37363, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306 or Wounded Warrior Project P. O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Ralph or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Cleveland and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements.