Ralph L. Sell, Jr.

Ralph Leroy Sell, Jr., 72, of Bowerston, passed away on Friday, January 21, 2022, at Menorah Park in Beachwood, Ohio, after a rapid decline in health. Born November 21, 1949 in Dennison, he was a son of the late Ralph “Leroy” and Twila Irene (Russell) Sell.

Ralph was a lifelong Bowerston resident who was known to be the kindest, most likeable person you would meet. He loved restoring old cars and, after his retirement from Simon Duplex, he started his own business, Sell Body Shop. Ralph was well known for his impeccable work and quickly was working more than full-time. He would talk cars for hours and would always say that his new business “never felt like a job” because he was doing what he loved and that he should have started the business years earlier.

On February 28, 1976, Ralph married Germaine Ann “Jerri” (Wires) Sell with whom he enjoyed 45 years of marriage -– enjoying line dancing together for many of those years – until her passing on March 8, 2021. They are survived by their children, Carol Owens, Sandra (Steve) Miller, James (Tracy) Hidey, Darla (Aaron) Handler, Brenda (Paul) Chaney, and Nicki (Cecil) Anno; 18 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. Ralph is also survived by his siblings, Austin (Dawn) Sell, Bobbie Weaver, Coral Jeanne (Jon) Johnson, and Patricia Ann (David) Diamond as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his eldest child, Samuel “Butch” Hidey.

According to Ralph’s wishes, he will be interred beside his beloved wife in Bowerston’s Longview Cemetery where family and friends will gather for a graveside service at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25. In lieu of flowers, Ralph would want his memory honored by having his friends take their family out to dinner together.