Ralph C."Corky" Dula

FLORENCE, AL.- Ralph C. "Corky" Dula, 85, of Florence, AL, formerly of Howland Twp, OH, died Saturday, April 20, 2013 at Hanceville Rehab Centre, Hanceville, AL. He was born March 5, 1928 in Warren, OH, the son of Thomas C. and Nellie L. (Sly) Dula and was a graduate of Howland High School, Warren, OH.

Corky entered the Army in 1950 and served until 1952. He spent the "coldest winter" in Korea where he earned the prestigious Combat Infantry Badge and attained the rank of M/Sgt. Upon his discharge from service, he married the former Ann Marie Morrison of Gallipolis, OH on June 14, 1953.

He earned his associate degree in business administration from Chipola Jr. College, Marianna, FL in 1955 and transferred to the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL where he majored in aviation administration and was a member of Sigma Alpha Tau honorary fraternity. In 1957 on the final phase of earning his commercial pilot's license, he crashed in the mountains near Lenoir, NC suffering third-degree burns on 60% of his body and spent a year in the hospital.

Ralph was an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Agency for five years. Ralph was employed by Revlon, Inc. and Pfizer, Inc. in sales/sales management for their military sales divisions and was promoted to World-wide Military Sales Manager for the Leeming/Pacquin divisions of Pfizer based in New York.

Memories will be carried on by is his wife of 59 years Ann (Morrison) Dula of Florence; daughter Jacqueline (Daniel) Reardon of Highlands Ranch, Co; twin grandsons Christopher and Patrick Reardon, Highlands Ranch, CO, daughter Karen (Danny) Creasy, Florence, AL; granddaughters Ellen (Mrs. Delano Ellis) Columbus, OH, and Katie Creasy, Columbus, OH; and several nieces and nephews. Ralph was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas C. Dula, Jr. and infant daughter, Cathryn Ann.

Ralph was a lifetime member and past commander of American Legion Florence/Lauderdale Post 11; lifetime member and past president of Korean War Veterans of Northwest Alabama; lifetime member and past National Adjutant of Combat Infantrymen's Association; organized the local unit of Combat Infantrymen's Association and served as the group's first Commander; lifetime member of 24th Infantry Division Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5140, and Disabled American Veterans. He was a member of North Wood United Methodist Church in Florence and former member of Howland Community Church.

Calling hours will be Thursday, April 25, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Greenview Funeral Home, Florence, AL. The service will be held Friday morning at 10:30 in the Greenview Memorial Chapel with burial in Greenview Memorial Park with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Post 11, P. O. Box 629, Florence, AL 35630 or any other veteran's organization of your choice.