Ralph Osborne Rymer

Ralph Osborne Rymer, 75, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Monday, September 29, 2008 at the family residence. He was employed with the City and County Recreational Department for many years and retired from the landscaping business. He was a veteran of the United States Army. He moved from Monroe County to Cleveland, he was asked to play a choose-up softball team during recess at Arnold School. Since he knew nothing about the game, he was chosen last. The first time he held a bat, he hit a home run. From that day, Mr. Rymer said, "It really changed the direction of his life. He began his pitching career in sixth grade at Arnold. In the 1940?s, he played while stationed in Alaska with the United States Army. He pitched for local men?s teams after high school when the teams represented communities from Bradley and nearby counties. He organized the first men?s slow pitch softball league in Cleveland in 1958. From 1959-1970, he pitched in the Dixie Major Softball League in Chattanooga, which was considered one of the strongest fast pitch leagues in the South. As the team?s only pitcher, he led the VFW 4848 Bullets to a Chattanooga City Series title. In the early 1960?s, Mr. Rymer joined the staff at the Cleveland Family YMCA as men?s and boy?s athletic director. He was involved with adult and youth programs in baseball, basketball and football. In the late 1960?s he took over the position of director of the old Church Street Community Center and at that time the Center was only open a few hours per day. Mr. Rymer?s first order of business was to make sure the playground was not to be locked again and to clean up the playground. He continued his work with youth by organizing girls and boys ball teams for teens and then organized a women?s softball league. He was president of the league for 20 years and it grew to more than 30 teams in five divisions. After a new facility for the Community Center was built in the early 1970?s Mr. Rymer organized the first girls youth league and in 1973 the Lady Aces softball team was formed and won their first state championship. The Lady Aces dominated the local and state softball scene for 20 years. He was inducted into the Bradley County Old Timers Hall of Fame on February 24, 2007. He had coached the boy?s basketball team at Mayfield Elementary a few years ago and had coached his grandson one-on-one in a number of sports. Mr. Rymer was the son of the late Ernest Rymer and Ina Arthur Rymer and was also preceded in death by his son, James Lloyd Rymer; siblings, Carl Rymer, Frances Kibler and Sue Bivens. He is survived by his wife Rosemarie Jack Rymer of Cleveland; two daughters: Rhondalyn Rymer and Angela Waddell both of Cleveland; son, Stacey Rymer and wife, Judy of Cleveland; step-children: Crystal Gentry and husband, Ricky of Cleveland, Stephen Jack of Athens and Perry Jack and wife Fonda of Cleveland; three grandchildren: Candice Rymer of Knoxville, Carmen McAmis and Duncan Waddell both of Cleveland; step-grandchildren: Britney Gentry and Taylor Jack; two siblings: Billie Nipper and Mamie Stephenson both of Cleveland; several nieces, nephews and close friends also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 1, 2008 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Reverend David Skidmore and Reverend Jim Gibson officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with military honors. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service. Pallbearers will be Jerry Wright, Rocky Cagle, Sam Fort, Roger Fort, Billy Washer, Greg Stafford, Jim Kibler and Jason Kibler. Honorary pallbearers will be the former Lady Aces Softball Players. His family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at the funeral home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Rymer family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.