Ralph Randolph, 81, longtime Gloucester City fire chief

As one of the "old timers" in the Gloucester City Fire Department, Ralph Randolph ran a tight ship.

He started as a volunteer firefighter in 1954 and rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming chief. He knew the ins and outs of the job and of working with volunteer and paid firefighters, said those who knew him.

"He was one of those straight-up guys who told you how it was," said current Battalion Chief Robert Williams, who worked under Chief Randolph in the 1980s.

Chief Randolph, 81, of Gloucester City, died of cancer Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Underwood-Memorial Hospital in Woodbury.

Born in Camden and raised in Woodlynne, Chief Randolph attended Collingswood High School.

After serving in the Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953, Chief Randolph joined the Gloucester City Fire Department. In 1959, he married Dorothy K. Groff, who lived three doors down from the old fire station on Bergen Street.

The longtime firefighter held a paid lieutenant position when he became fire chief in 1977.

During his tenure, Chief Randolph dealt with a lot of large fires, including fatal fires that took the lives of children in the area.

After he retired in 1988, Chief Randolph was actively involved in the retired firefighters' union.

"He would go to meetings all across the state" to keep retired firefighters informed about their benefits and other news, said Gloucester City Fire Capt. Jerry Hubbs.

He was always offering to help at the fire station and at the fund-raising events the firefighters held, Hubbs said.

Chief Randolph coached the Gloucester City Little League while his son was young and in recent years served on the Gloucester City Planning Board.

A longtime member and trustee with the Trinity United Methodist Church in Gloucester City, Chief Randolph did a lot of work with the church's pastor-parish relations committee, his family said. He helped out at almost every breakfast and dinner the church held.

Besides his wife, Chief Randolph is survived by a son Ralph III; daughters Cherylann Randolph and NancyLynne Baus; and seven grandchildren.

A viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1, at McCann-Healey Funeral Home, 851 Monmouth St., Gloucester City.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Interment will be at Eglington Cemetery in Clarksboro.