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Obituaries
Ralph Paul Ofcarcik

Ralph Paul Ofcarcik, 63, beloved son, husband, stepdad, friend and teacher, left his earthly home by the beautiful Red Mountain June 30, 2007, and at last found peace after a very courageous battle with cancer. He was born June 18, 1944, in Holyoke, Mass., to Ralph and Cecilia Parent Ofcarcik.
Ralph was raised and educated in South Hadley Falls, Mass., where he was an excellent student and outstanding athlete in baseball. He grew up loving motorcycles and playing the drums. After high school, Ralph attended Texas A&M University, graduating with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in agriculture, and a doctorate degree in food science.
While in college, he researched and designed food specifically for NASA astronauts, specializing in freeze-drying techniques. After graduating from Texas A&M, he taught food science at Michigan State University and later worked for the Bosley Corporation as director of Quality Control. Later, Ralph moved to Indianapolis, where he owned and operated his own delicatessen near the Indianapolis Speedway.
In 1985, he moved to Southern Utah. Shortly after, he began his employment at what is today known as Red Mountain Spa, where he worked for 21 years as director of Nutrition Services.
Over the years, Ralph was a popular lecturer and author, well liked by the many guests and staff who came to know him. He often became a long-term friend and confident to those he counseled about their health and nutrition. He had the scientist's great thirst for learning and spent many hours researching and reading and put that knowledge to good use in his chosen vocation.
During his 22 years in Utah, Ralph explored much of the back country and enjoyed the challenge of hiking difficult terrain, including Snow Canyon's "Island in the Sky," which he traversed many times.
In 2002, he married Lily Staats, and they made their home in Ivins. He loved waking up each morning and looking up at the big Red Mountain just beyond their backyard. Although he came into Lily’s children's lives when they were nearly grown, Ralph was always an encouraging and loving stepdad to Lily's children.
Ralph also had a tender place in his heart for all animals, especially their family dog, Molly, and his favorite cats Natasha and Gracie. Although he was a big man, standing 6'2" tall, he carefully avoided harming even the smallest creature.
Ralph will be remembered as a caring, kind, intelligent gentleman who had a wry sense of humor.  He was a gifted jazz drummer and played in a trio with his father on piano in his early years. All his life, he had a keen ear for rhythm and enjoyed teaching himself music from other cultures.  Ralph is survived by his loving wife, Lily, and will be greatly missed by his stepchildren, Aura Warburton, of Bend, Ore., Joshua Warburton, of St. George, and Benjamin Warburton of Bend; granddaughter Sky Warburton, of St. George; and his devoted mother, Cecilia Ofcarcik, of Cedar City. He is preceded in death by his father, Ralph.
Services took place Saturday, July 7, at Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel. Interment was at Ivins Cemetery. Arrangements were made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, UT (435) 673-2454. Friends and family are invited to offer their condolences at www.spilsburymortuary.com.

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