Ralph R. Murray Sr., 94, of Rigby Road, Peach Bottom, PA, passed away at Lancaster General Hospital on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. He was the husband of Mary Emma Hicks Murray, who passed away in 2001. Born in Fulton Township, he was the son of the late Jesse Murray and Helen Milburn Murray, the last African American farmers in the Southern End of Lancaster County. He graduated from Solanco High School, Class of 1949, and attended Lincoln University, an HBCU, from 1949 to 1951, before being drafted into the Korean War. He also served as a guard for Governor John S. Fine. He worked as a supervisor for Luken Steel in Coatsville, retiring after 35 years. Ralph and his wife, Mary, had seven children: the late Kathleen Murray, Shelia Murray-Hargrove (wife of Fitzpatrick K. Hargrove), Vivian Murray-Tiller, Lisa H. (wife of Wilfredo Nogueras), Dana Murray-Morris, Ralph Jr. (husband of Kristen Murray), and Lori Murray. He also has eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his long-time companion/second wife, Betty Hedrick Murray. Ralph believed in serving and advocating for his community. He served as President of the Wakefield Lions Club and was a member of the historic Mount Horeb Masonic Lodge, an all-Black Masonic group formed in Columbia in 1852. He was treasurer of the Lancaster County Planning Commission, helping bring baseball to Lancaster County in 2004 with the establishment of the Lancaster Stormers. His love of baseball meant he never missed a Stormers game, and in turn, he was gifted his own seat at Clipper Stadium. In his pastime, he was also an avid golfer and coached boys' baseball teams. An African American man in the Southern End of Lancaster, Ralph was a man of many firsts. He was a pioneer in his own right, who gave back to his community with care and dignity.

A funeral service will take place from Reynolds and Shivery Funeral Home, 144 East State Street, Quarryville, on Wednesday, February 11th at 11am. There will be a viewing from 10-11am. Interment will be in Little Britain Presbyterian Cemetery.