Ralph A. Kuebler

Ralph Albert Kuebler - a cherished Papa, Dad, Brother, Uncle, Son, Mentor, and Best Friend - spent his final days surrounded by family and friends, keeping his trademark kindness, positive outlook, and endless stories until the very end, exactly as he would have wanted.

Born to German immigrants, Ernest and Thekla Kuebler, in Hackensack, New Jersey, he inherited from them a strong work ethic and a deep devotion to family. Ralph’s childhood was filled with pranks, laughter, and the kind of mischief that likely explains why his mother’s hair was white by the age of 40. He graduated from Hackensack High School in 1964. Early jobs came in all shapes and sizes - newspaper routes, the Ford Motor and Nabisco factories, and even helping out with a woolly mammoth archeological dig.

After his first year at Temple University, Ralph voluntarily enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He served with honor as a Morse Code operator with top-secret security clearance, spending 20 months in Okinawa, Japan, and 18 months in Turkey. His time in the service forged lasting friendships with his “service buddies,” and the stories they shared often had more to do with life outside the base than on it. Annual reunion trips gave them the perfect excuse to share stories from six decades past, with each retelling growing more vivid and grandiose than the one before.

After his military service, Ralph returned to school, earning his B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Maryland. His career in banking began with American Security Bank in Washington, D.C., followed by Maryland National Bank and later MBNA, which led his family to move from Silver Spring, Maryland, to Hockessin, Delaware. He held a myriad of positions within the industry, with experience in branch automation and expansion, ATM networking, pilot programs for the first chip credit cards, affinity marketing, and executive leadership. He was most fond of the later years of his career as he developed and led the MBNA Education Foundation, overseeing teacher grants, college scholarships, and career development opportunities.

Ralph was deeply committed to giving back to his community, dedicating much of his time and talent to fundraising endeavors like the MBNA Walk for Education, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and March of Dimes. An early retirement from MBNA in 2005 suited Ralph more than he expected, as he seamlessly transitioned from business executive to a deeper involvement in volunteer leadership roles in nonprofit arts and education initiatives. Though he often joked that the artistic talent in his family had skipped his generation, Ralph held an appreciation for the arts and proudly dedicated 28 years as a Board member—most currently as Board President—of the Center for Creative Arts in Yorklyn, Delaware. He also served as a current board member for the Red Clay Education Foundation, chaired the Superstars in Education Selection Committee, and championed impactful programs like Principal for a Day. His passion for equity in education led him to testify before the Congressional Subcommittee on Education Reform, where he emphasized the vital link between literacy and the workforce. Additionally, he served on advisory panels for the University of Delaware Academy for Nonprofit Leadership, Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education, and the Business/Education Partnership for the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, served four years as a judge for the State of Delaware Higher Education Commission - Merit Scholarship Program, and a grant review panelist of the Delaware State Arts Councils.

An avid traveler throughout his life, Ralph visited more than 130 countries across six continents, journeyed through the provinces of Canada and all 50 states, and visited countless national parks. One of his most memorable adventures was a three‑week trip through Alaska with his father in a Volkswagen camper. In retirement, he embraced the freedom to take extended vacations, experiencing the richness of other cultures and forming lasting friendships along the way.

Ralph’s most enduring legacy, though, was his infectious positivity and kindness. Whether in work or play, he embraced life with an unshakable glass-half-full attitude. His passions were vast: avid traveler, nature lover, gardener, carpenter, amateur cameraman, sports player, workaholic, self-proclaimed stock market guru, cat napper, professional procrastinator, babysitter, chauffeur, trusted confidant, night owl, pack rat, and longwinded storyteller. He was a man who saw the good in everyone and believed each individual had a unique personality to share. Ralph lived by his father’s philosophy: “Life would be boring if we were all the same.”

A true modern-day medical miracle — a cat with nine lives — Ralph defied the odds with an unbreakable will to live. At 47, he survived a quintuple bypass; at 70, he faced and overcame cancer; and through the years, he weathered numerous additional health challenges. Throughout it all, his determination to recover never wavered, driven by his belief that he had “more life to live.” Above all, he was especially determined to meet and build lasting bonds with each of his six grandchildren.

Ralph was never short of advice, offering unsolicited wisdom at every turn: “Hard work pays off; Start saving early on; Take time to do things the right way; Read instructions first; Do your research; Save your receipts; Ask questions; Help others; Be kind; Introduce yourself; Address people by their name; Find the good in others; Pay compliments when they are due; Stand up for what you believe in; Take every opportunity life offers; Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

In his final days, as Ralph’s health quickly declined, his spirit remained unshaken. He carried with him the same humor, warmth, and positivity that had always defined him. Until the very end, he shared stories, cracked jokes, and offered his trademark advice. His smile never faded, and his mind remained sharp. He closed his eyes one last time and quietly slipped away, his body resting after a full and joyous life. Yet, knowing Ralph, we’re sure that as he took his last breath, he would have said with a grin, “I’m not gone - I’m just resting my eyes.”

Ralph is survived by his two loving daughters, Karen (Latané) Meade and Susan (Jacob) Czerwin, who were his greatest source of pride. He leaves behind his heart’s delight — six precious grandchildren, Camden, Riley, Parker, Brinley, Cooper, and Olivia — each of whom brought him immeasurable joy. He is also survived by his adoring sister, Lynda (Thomas) Zaccone, and a host of nieces and nephews whom he proudly embraced as his bonus sons and daughters, as well as their children. His former wife and mother of his children, Marilynn, remained faithfully devoted to him until the very end. Ralph now joins in eternal rest with his beloved parents, Ernest and Thekla Kuebler, and his cherished older brother, Gordon Kuebler.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the nonprofits Ralph proudly served the longest: the Center for the Creative Arts, the Red Clay Education Foundation, or an organization of your choice.

https://www.ccarts.org/

https://www.redclayschools.com/about-red-clay/rcef

Celebration of Life: Join us as we honor a life well-lived. The service will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at Deerfield Golf Club, 507 Thompson Station Road, Newark, DE 19711, followed by a luncheon, laughter, and the sharing of stories. 

Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square, PA. To view Ralph's online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com