BERWICK — Ralph Sylvester Pass, 86, of Berwick, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014. Ralph was born in Los Angeles, CA, on Feb. 17, 1928. His parents, Christopher and Alice Gott Pass, had five children. Ralph was the youngest. His father and oldest brother passed away when he was 10.

He spent his childhood and early years of marriage in California. He married Esther H. Anderson in Durham, ME, on Jan. 8, 1950, and lived in Castro Valley, CA. In December 1958, he moved his family to Norwalk, CT, when his employer, Dorr- Oliver, transferred him to their corporate headquarters in Stamford, CT. A short time after retiring, they sold their Norwalk home and moved to Berwick, Maine in 1993.

He graduated from Hayward Union High School in 1946 and achieved a Distinguished Rifleman certification from the National Rifle Association. Also among his early achievements was the California State Junior Championship. During his schooling he was a rifle instructor and on April 15, 1946, enlisted in the Army where he trained and served until his honorable discharge. He was employed by Hayward Union High School as an assistant instructor of Marksmanship. In 1947, he attended the Bible Class at Chestnut Hill in New Hampshire.

The first half of his career at Dorr-Oliver was spent as a mechanical engineer. He was fascinated by what computers could accomplish. He then spent the second half of his career in the programming field. His legacy was a cost estimating system that was used for nearly two decades.

Ralph had many hobbies over the years. Among them was raising guppies, landscaping, writing stories, building trails on their property and collecting movies. When one of the children needed trees cleared, he would gladly spend the many hours needed to help out. His message to his children was to continue your education. Ralph and Esther followed up by generously helping their children by paying for school costs.

He was a member of the Eliot Baptist Church.

He was predeceased by a son, Richard C. Pass, and three brothers, Christopher (Sonny), Charles and David Pass, a half-sister and his parents, Christopher and Alice (Gott) Pass.

He is survived by his wife, Esther of Berwick; five sons, Arthur A. and his wife Rossana of North Berwick, Curtis R. and his wife Janice of Durham, ME, Ronald I. and his wife Claire of California, Dennis S. and his wife Kristi of McDonough, GA, and Daniel G. and his wife Parimala of Stockbridge, GA; three daughters, Joyce E. Pass of Peabody, MA, Carolyn Fae Aldrich and her husband Andrew of North Berwick and Monica E. Judd and her husband Ted of Michigan; 24 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Friends are invited to visit Monday from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. at Shiloh Chapel, 38 Beulah Lane Durham, ME, with Pastor Ronald Parker officiating.

Interment will be in the East Durham Cemetery in the spring. Arrangements are in the care of Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick. For those unable to attend, condolences to the family and remembrances expressed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.