Ralph E Blodgett

Ralph Edward Blodgett was born in Goodland, Kansas on November 5, 1941 to Maye Rose Blodgett and Lawrence Blodgett. Ralph spent his early childhood years in the farming community of Stratton, Colorado with his parents and his brothers (Claus and Larry) and sister (June), and moved with his family to Burlington, Colorado when he was 14 years old. Ralph graduated from Burlington High School in 1959.

In the fall of 1959, Ralph enrolled at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He loved Boulder and the Colorado Buffaloes Football team. He received his bachelor's degree in history in 1963 and thereafter began a career in public education by teaching high school history at Mapleton High School in Denver, Colorado. After three years of teaching high school students, Ralph returned to Boulder where he earned his master’s degree and Doctor of Philosophy in History. Further graduate studies were completed at the University of California Davis and Columbia University, New York City.

On August 27, 1966, Ralph married Catherine Deane Penny in Burlington, Colorado. They spent the first five years of their married life in Boulder while Ralph was in graduate school. On July 1, 1968, their son Ted (Ralph Edward Blodgett, Jr.) was born in Denver. After earning his Ph. D at CU in the summer of 1971, Ralph began his higher education teaching career at Lenoir Ryne College in Hickory, North Carolina. On June 25, 1972, his second son, John Lawrence Blodgett, was born in Hickory.

The week after John’s birth, Ralph was offered a job to teach Colonial American History and Diplomatic History at then-Cameron College (now Cameron University) in Lawton, Oklahoma. Always ready for a new adventure and a pay raise, Ralph loaded his family in a U-Haul and moved to Lawton, sight unseen. For the next 36 years, Ralph taught history at Cameron. Ralph was instrumental in developing interdisciplinary course, Humanities of the Great Plains. He was Chair of the History Department and the inaugural Graduate Dean of Cameron’s Graduate School, before returning to full time teaching and ultimately retiring in 2006. Ralph was an exemplary role model and mentor to many students.

Ralph was active in many local activities including the Lawton Heritage Association, which preserved and promoted the Mattie Beal Home, the 1976 Bicentennial committee, the International Festival with the Lawton Public Library, Cameron Campus Ministry, and the Museum of the Great Plains. In 2007, Ralph received the Roma Clift Montgomery Citizen of the Humanities award. He was an active and valued leader in promoting the humanities in Lawton.

In 2008, Ralph and Cathie moved to Norman to be closer to their sons. For the past 17 years , he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, watching basketball games, and attending band and orchestra concerts. Ralph passed from this life on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma.

He is survived by his loving wife, Cathie; his sons, Ted and John (Holly); grandchildren, Sam, Megan and Kyleigh; sister, June (Jerry) and his brother, Larry. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maye and Lawrence Blodgett and his brother, Claus.

A memorial service will be held in Ralph’s honor at 11:00 AM on Monday, September, 29, 2025 at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. Burial will be at a later date at Fairview Cemetery, Burlington Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to McFarlin Food Pantry.

“Well done, good and faithful servant”