Ralph Joseph Bourgeois passed away on May 27, 2019 at the age of 92. Ralph was born in New Orleans on November 18, 1926 and was a life-long resident of the Crescent City. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Betty Brown Bourgeois of Pascagoula, Mississippi and three sons, Keith Alan Bourgeois of Houston, Jeffrey Ralph Bourgeois of Dallas, and Craig Lind Bourgeois of Metairie, daughter-in-laws Kelly Best Bourgeois of Houston and Tara Thomas Bourgeois of Metairie, along with five grandchildren Alan, Brian, and Camille Bourgeois of Houston and Brynn and Braden Bourgeois of Metairie. He is also survived by his nephew Harry C. Ferrell III and niece Janet Farrell Graham both of San Antonio. He is preceded in death by his parents Agnes and Philip Bourgeois, sisters Ella Bourgeois Ferrell and Marion Bourgeois Montelipre and nephew Stephen Montelipre. He graduated from Alcee Fortier High School in New Orleans and served in the Merchant Marines and Navy during WWII. Ralph had a long career in men’s clothing spanning over five decades. He held multiple positions at Godchaux’s on Canal St. and later became a men’s clothing buyer traveling to New York and many European clothing markets. He then transitioned to a long career as a regional sales representative of Nautica Clothing. Ralph was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and crabbing at his condominium on Bay St. Louis in Pass Christian, MS. He also enjoyed gardening and tending to his collection of bromeliads and staghorn ferns. He loved to pass on his knowledge and wisdom of his fishing and gardening techniques. A service will be held on Friday, June 7th at St. Pius X Catholic Church located at 6666 Spanish Fort Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124 starting at 10:00am followed by a reception next door which will last until 12:00pm. Burial will be at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery of Slidell located at 34888 Grantham College Dr, Slidell, LA 70460 at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at https://alzfdn.org or https://lakepontchartrain-basin-foundation.networkforgood.com/projects/48257-general-campaign is suggested. Arrangements by Church Funeral Services, St. Amant 225-644-9683