Ralph Leroy Coffing

Ralph Leroy Coffing, 88, passed away on October 4, 2015 in Lynchburg, Virginia.  He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Doris Littlejohn Coffing; daughter Catherine Ferguson and her husband, David Ferguson, of Lynchburg, Virginia; daughter Tracy Coffing and her husband, Ron Rogos, of Leesburg, Virginia; grandchildren Erin Ferguson, of Richmond, Virginia; and Ryan Ferguson and his wife, Dabney Ferguson, of Charlottesville, Virginia.  He is also survived by his brother, Rudy C. Coffing, of Bothell, Washington.  Ralph and Doris were predeceased by their son, Cary A. Coffing and Ralph’s brother, Robert Coffing.

Ralph and Doris met in high school in Fair Oaks, California.  After serving with the Navy in China during WWII, Ralph returned to Sacramento to further his education, specializing in the field of railroad transportation, logistics, and equipment.  Initially employed by the Union Pacific Railroad, followed by the California Fruit Exchange, Sacramento, he later became General Traffic Manager, DiGiorgio Corporation, San Francisco; Director of Marketing, Shippers Car Line Division, ACF Industries, New York City; followed by 30 years as Executive Vice President, The Buncher Company, Pittsburgh, PA and President, Buncher Rail Car Service Company, Lynchburg, VA.

Ralph served as a member and chairman of a number of national and regional rail transportation boards and committees, as well as on the Board of Directors of several corporations.  He was recognized as being instrumental in the development and design of several highly specialized railroad cars for the transportation of both dry bulk and liquid commodities.  In the early days, he served as a consultant to the Frigidaire Division of General Motors in the development of the mechanical refrigerator car and is credited for the design and development of the “Custom Courier” self-cleaning tank car for transporting bulk wines and the “DiGiorgio Method” for securing unitized lumber products in standard cushion underframe box cars.

Ralph demonstrated his extraordinary creative and artistic talents through numerous hobbies, including building, fine woodworking, woodcarving, and pyrography.  With a love of music but no formal training, he played the piano and keyboard with great proficiency.  In previous band collaborations, Ralph also played the clarinet, saxophone, and bass guitar.

Ralph and Doris are members of Peakland United Methodist Church.  He also served as a member of the Westminster Canterbury Foundation, Residents’ Council, Marketing and PR, Education, and Dining committees.

Ralph’s life will be celebrated at a memorial service on Saturday, October 24 at 11:00 a.m. in the Commons, Westminster Canterbury, Lynchburg, Virginia.  A reception will follow at Westminster Canterbury.

For those wishing to make a donation in Ralph’s memory, please consider the Cary A. Coffing Memorial Scholarship Fund through Westminster Canterbury, 501 V. E. S. Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503; Peakland United Methodist Church, 4434 Boonsboro Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503; or Patmos United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 106, Huddleston, VA 24104.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.