Bolt, Ralph L.

BOLT, VANDER WEST, VANDER WILT

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2005 at 17:01:12

Funeral services for Ralph L. Bolt, 93, of Pella were held October 1, 2002 at the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella, the Rev. Sheldon Starkenburg officiated. A family prayer service was held with Rev. William Huyser presiding. Music was provided by Mrs. Sheila De Haan, organist and Mr. Ivan Mulder, soloist.
Interment was at the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella with the Rev. Kenneth Havert presiding. Casket bearers were "The Grandchildren".

Ralph Lambert Bolt was born on February 8, 1909 at Lucas, Michigan. His mother was the former Anna Vander West and his father, Rev. Ralph Bolt, was a minister in the Christian Reformed Church denomination. Ralph received his grade school education at the Sully Christian Grade School in Sully where his parents were living at the time and he graduated from high school at Grundy Center in 1927. Ralph then attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. and graduated from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines.

On September 6, 1934 he was united in marriage with Maggie Matilda Vander Wilt at the home of her parents in Pella. To this union two daughters were born: Shirley Ann and Mary Lou. Following their marriage, Ralph and Margaret, as she was known, lived in Monroe for a short time before they settled in Des Moines. Ralph worked as a specialized meat cutter in Des Moines for 46 years. He retired from the Fulton Meat Market in 1980 and they returned to Pella where they lived the remainder of their married life.

They enjoyed traveling together and made many trips to the states of Texas and Alabama. They also enjoyed walking. Ralph was one of the individuals responsible for the establishment of the Des Moines Christian Reformed Church in Des Moines. They became charter members and in the early life of the church he was responsible for bringing many nurses to the worship services. After moving to Pella, they became members of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church where they attended faithfully the remainder of their married life.

On Saturday morning, September 28, 2002 Ralph went home to be with his Lord while being cared for in the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella. He attained the age of 93 years, seven months, and 20 days.

Ralph had served on the board of the Christian Opportunity Center in Pella. He will be remembered as a quiet and calm husband, father, grandfather and brother in Christ.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Margaret M. Bolt; their two daughters: Shirley Ann Havert and her husband, Rev. Kenneth Havert of Grandville, Mich.; Mary Lou Bogaard and her husband, Larry Bogaard of Leighton; four grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Of his original family, Ralph leaves a younger brother, Marvin Bolt and his wife, Gladys of Grandville, Mich.; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tone and Dorothy Vander Wilt of Oskaloosa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Ralph and Anna Bolt; and his three sisters: Sophia (Dick) Sjaardema, Delia Bolt and Jessie (Herman) Vander Werf.

Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home in Pella.

Memorials may be made to the "Back to God Hour", a Christian Reformed Church radio broadcast, or the building fund of the Des Moines Christian Reformed Church, 5001 Hickman Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50310.

The Pella Chronicle, October 11, 2002