Ralph D. Gruber

Ralph D. Gruber, 88, of South Hills, died peacefully, Saturday, April 19, 2014. He opened Topper Foods Company, an institutional food service, in Eighty Four in 1972, which later became Continental – Topper Foods. After retirement, Mr. Gruber worked for Kirk Livery driving hearses and limousines and enjoyed the many years he worked at Kirk’s. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy. He was the beloved husband of Edith (Kirschman) Gruber for 65 years, and beloved father of Suzanne (Tim) Coffield of Georgia, David of Zelienople, Donald of Taylorstown, and the late Daniel Gruber.         Mr. Gruber was the son of the late A.S. “Lou” and Sarah (Burr) Gruber, brother of the late Robert Gruber, Bernice (Albert “Boots”) Leshen and Sarah Jane Palmer. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Private burial in St. Paul’s Cemetery will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Cemetery Fund, c/o Edith Gruber, Secretary, 116 Blossom Hill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234.