Ralph James Christman

Ralph James Christman, Jr., passed away on January 7, 2016, after a 13 year battle with Parkinson's Disease.
He was preceded in death by his infant granddaughter, Courtney Christman Foster.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Jane Green Christman; seven children, Charlotte (Paolo Sheaffer), Ralph III (Julia Tinsley), John (Miliss McKay), Greg (Caroline Murphy), Janie Boling (John Boling), Preston, and Paul Christman; eighteen grandchildren, Ryan, Ralston and Garrett Foster; Ralph IV, Samuel and Neal; Jack, Trevor, Lucienne and Amelie; Nicholas and Jordan (Heather); Crawford, Shelby and Caroline Boling; Marguerite; Nathan and Cameron; and his sister, Evelyn Christman James, living in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Ralph was born in New Orleans on Christmas Day, 1931, to Evelyn Hickman Christman and Dr. Ralph J. Christman. He graduated from the Isidore Newman School and Tulane University with a B.A. in Business Administration. He and Mary Jane Green were married on September 4, 1954, and had seven children in the next 10 years. He was commissioned in the US Air Force for two years and left at the rank of Captain. In later years, he had his pilot's license and took great pleasure in escaping to the blue skies. Before that, he took to the blue waters and was a member of Southern Yacht Club and its board, the L'16 International Association, and Pass Christian Yacht Club.
Ralph was president of Metal Building Products in Harvey, Louisiana, until his retirement. He was active in several Carnival organizations and a member of the Founders of New Orleans.
Ralph was a devout Catholic attending daily Mass for most of his adult life; first at Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans and later at Holy Family in Pass Christian. He was a member of the Men of Manresa, the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, a volunteer at the Pass Christian Food Pantry and was awarded the Lumeni Cristi from the Diocese of Biloxi.
The Christman family wishes to thank Sarah Wells and Janiece Dedeaux for their loving care of Ralph. Sarah has loved him as her own father and prolonged his life while supporting Mary Jane.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 pm on Friday, January 15, 2016, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Pass Christian, Mississippi, with visitation from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 16, 2016, at Metairie Cemetery. RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Pass Christian, served the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, 22342 Evangeline Dr., Pass Christian, MS, 39571.
An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com