Ralph Duane Gonzales

RALPH DUANE GONZALES - Orland, Maine and Round Rock, Texas – Ralph was born on October 27, 1940 in Mount Desert, Maine and he peacefully passed away on April 28, 2023 in Round Rock, Texas, with his daughter Tina, and her husband Ted, by his side. Ralph grew up in Hall Quarry with his mother, Arlene, and his five siblings, Joan, Rolf, Libby, Patricia, and James - of which he was the oldest brother. He learned a strong sense of family and the importance of community at a very young age. When he graduated from Mount Desert High School, Ralph relocated to the Bucksport area. While residing in Bucksport, he worked at Eddie Mercer’s store and lived with his Uncle and Aunt (Dev & Fran Sanborn) for a few years while he attended Husson University. All the while, he continued to provide support to his family. Before being drafted, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Korea during the Vietnam War. Upon his return from Korea, he was stationed in Washington D.C. where he met his 1st wife, Anita Van Fossen. They married and returned to Orland to start their life and family together. A few years later, they decided to adopt two daughters, Tina and Melody. Ralph and Anita divorced in the early eighties. A few years later, Ralph met his wife of over 35 years, Constance (Connie) Burgess Gonzales. Over the years, Connie and Ralph enjoyed dancing, traveling to southern Maine, having a meal out (with their dogs waiting for leftovers in the car), or hosting family events. Ralph could always be seen outside doing projects from lawn maintenance, planting flowers, hanging wreaths at Christmas, or washing windows. After Connie passed away in September of 2019, Ralph decided to move to Texas with his youngest daughter Tina and her husband. Ralph worked for St. Regis / Champion Paper Mill for over 25 years before retiring. He served several terms as a Board Member for Seaboard Federal Credit Union. He was a Bail Bondsman for the Bucksport Police Department and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department for numerous years. He worked for Laidlaw (Student First) in their office and as a bus driver for many years. He served the Town of Orland for over 40 years - at first, in the role of Treasurer and, then, as Selectmen. In his younger days, he was even a member of the Orland Volunteer Fire Department. He will likely be most remembered in his community for the Income Tax Preparation business that he ran out of his home for over 30 years. Ralph was a pillar in his family and his community. He will always be known for his kindness, generosity, sincerity, truthfulness, and the never ending spandex outfits. The family would like to thank the staff at Sundara Senior Living in Round Rock, Texas, for the care provided over the last year. The staff at Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital and Compassus Hospice for their care and compassion provided during the last few weeks of his life. Ralph is predeceased by his father, Harold Gonzales, mother, Arlene (Sanborn) Gonzales, son, Baby Boy Gonzales of Orland, wife, Constance Gonzales of Orland, mother-in-law, Alma Marion Noyes of Orland, twin brother, Rolf (Gonzales) Wayne of New Jersey, Patricia (Gonzales) Robinson of Bucksport, brother-in law, Clyde Carter of Otter Creek, sister-in-law, Mary Mattson of Hall Quarry, and stepson Wesley Burgess of Orland. Ralph is survived by his Siblings - Joan Carter of Otter Creek, Libby Pomroy of Bar Harbor, and James Gonzales, and family friend Wendy Gray, of Hall Quarry; Daughters - Melody (Gonzales) Neal of Panama City, Florida, and Tina (Gonzales) Glover, and her husband Ted, of Round Rock, Texas; Stepsons - Keith Burgess, and his wife Roberta, of Bucksport, Maine, and Arnold James Burgess, and his wife Mae, of Bar Harbor, Maine; Grandsons - Jacob Antoine of Round Rock, Texas, Robert (Bobby) Fiorentino, and his wife Micah, of New Albany, Indiana, Mathew Burgess, his wife Kim, of Orland, Maine, Corey Robinson, his wife Kelli, of Orland, Maine, Arnold Burgess, his partner Katherine Varnum, of Bucksport; Granddaughters - Veronica Dodge, her husband Daniel, of Penobscot, and Samantha Burgess, her fiance Raymond McNerney, of Hermon; Nieces - Wendy Pomroy, her partner Glenn, and Holly (Pomroy) Savage, her husband Brian, all of Seal Cove; Nephews - Mike Carter, his wife Donna, of South Berwick, David Pomeroy of Casco, and Carl Carter of Otter Creek; Cousin - Eugene Sanborn, and wife Joanne, of Southfork, Florida; and Great Great Grandchildren - Snow Antoine, Mason Burgess, Aliza and Abigail Robinson, Silas and Adaline Dodge, Landon and Liam McNerney, and Piper and Kolby Burgess.. A Celebration of Life is planned for July 15th at the Orland Community Center Gymnasium from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Food and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by June 30th to rgonzales3761@gmail.com or call 512.560.1944, if you plan to attend. The family will have a private burial after the event. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please send donations in his name to - Old Dogs Go To Helen, 83 Range Road, Epsom, NH 03304 - they are a registered Non-Profit Organization (EIN - 88-3442726).

Ralph Duane Gonzales

October 27, 1940 - April 28, 2023