RALPH MYRON SHEPARD

Ralph Myron Shepard: Father, Friend, Pastor, Missionary

Born in Muskegon Heights, MI on 1-1-29, Ralph passed away in Belton, MO on 5-16-2026.

He is survived by six of his seven children, 18 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren, and pre-deceased by his wife Virginia (McDowell) Shepard and his eldest daughter Jann (Shepard) VanderMey.

Ralph married his wife Jenny on June 28th,1952. As the first believers in their families, Ralph and Jenny determined they would have a godly home and raised their family accordingly. After graduating from University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science, he taught math in Ann Arbor, MI, and then worked for some years as an engineer before taking over the Shepard Dry cleaners in Muskegon Heights, MI.

In his love for the Lord he received his Master of Divinity from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary in mid-life and then answered God’s call to ministry, beginning at Hillside Baptist Church in Aurora IL, and later at Eureka Baptist Church in St Croix Falls, WI. After the pastorate he served as a financial aids administrator at Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music in Grand Rapids (GRSBM). He later served as a missionary with Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF) in Zambia in the early 1990s being seconded to The Theological College of Central Africa (TCCA). In 1998 they moved to Belton, MO to be close to his eldest twin daughters. In 2006 his youngest son, Aaron and Veronica, also came to Belton and later they moved together into the house where he spent his last years.

Ralph’s descendants have spread widely across the USA, with children and grandchildren living in MO, CA, MI, CO, FL, AZ, WI, HI, and TX.