Ralph E. Bloom

Ralph Elmer Bloom, age 89, passed away January 11, 2023 at Hospice of Hope Ohio Valley, in Seaman, Ohio with his loving wife and family by his side.
He was born on October 27, 1933 to Elmer and Mary (Walker) Bloom of New Market, Ohio. He was the only son and the second of four children. He attended elementary and middle school in New Market, followed by Hillsboro High School.
During his high school years, he regularly helped his father with his trucking business delivering fertilizer to farmers, hauling livestock to Cincinnati, and doing farm chores. After high school, Ralph was drafted into the army. He served in the radio division while stationed in Boston and in the motor pool in Panama. He often joked that he drove from the East Coast to the West Coast in one hour. He returned stateside in February 1956 and married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Thompson on April 8th. In the same year, Ralph and Ruth started their business, Ralph Bloom Trucking. They set up housekeeping in Hillsboro and then moved to New Market where they built their first home. In 1969, Ralph and Ruth purchased land from Ruth's mother and built their current home on US Highway 50 in Hillsboro.
Ralph drove, managed, and serviced a fleet of trucks, delivering stone to various projects in the area including Lake Waynoka, Lake Lorelei and the Ford plant in Batavia, Ohio. Many local entrepreneurs in the trucking industry got their start driving for Ralph.
In the fall of 1976, Ralph and Ruth purchased their first Belgian draft horses. This became a passion they both enjoyed. In 1977, Ralph quit driving a truck and officially became a "barn boy". Ralph's daily activities included feeding, training, breeding, shoeing, and showing his beloved horses. Eventually the herd grew to 88 horses at its peak. Over 300 foals were born on the farm during Ralph's lifetime. Ralph only stopped shoeing and performing the daily chores on the farm upon the advice of his doctor at the age of 80. Ralph became an active member of the Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America, Ohio Belgian Breeders, and the Southern Ohio Draft Horse Association. Ralph and Ruth exhibited their horses at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus and the North American International Livestock Show in Louisville, as well as at numerous smaller county shows in Ohio and Kentucky. A competitor at the Ohio State Fair once commented that Ralph was the only exhibitor at that time to breed, train, shoe, and show his own four horse hitch and win multiple blue ribbons. Ralph was often called upon to judge draft horse competitions at local shows. His expertise was requested by many, and Ralph freely shared his considerable knowledge of Belgians. Bloom's Belgians has sold horses throughout the United States and Canada.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth, his son John Bloom, his son and daughter in law Jeffery & Tamara Bloom; Six grandchildren, Janelle (Adam) Rockey of Hillsboro, Laura (Brian) Byers of Pawnee, Illinois, Zachary (fiancé, Sarah Jacobson) Bloom of Bloomingburg, Emily (Matthew) Jackson of Hillsboro, Jade (Todd) Seaman of Lynchburg and Jenna (Robbie) Wagner of Russellville; ten great grandchildren, Makenna Byers, Magarah Bloom, Maddyson Byers, Allison Rockey, Joslyn Rockey, Meri Jackson, Meyer Bloom, Hayden Wagner, Maggie Jackson, and Hadley Wagner; three step great grandchildren Justin, Joseph and Paisley Thompson; and one sister, Nancy Bloom Green.
In addition to his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by his sisters Doris Jean Ayres and Charlotte Garbet, as well as his daughter in law Cindy McMonigle Bloom.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Monday January 16, 2023 at the Thompson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the New Market Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Highland County Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Sunday January 15, 2023 at the Thompson Funeral Home

To sign Ralph's online guest book, please visit at www.thompsonfuneralhomes.com , or to leave a like, comment or share, please visit the Thompson Funeral Home & Cremation Care Facebook Page.


In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Hope Ohio Valley, 230 Medical Center Drive, Seaman, OH 45679.