| Ralph Lloyd Wiser |
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Ralph Lloyd Wiser, federal employee
Friday, December 17, 2010; 12:28 AM
Ralph L. Wiser, who worked in the federal government for 49 years
and retired as the chief administrative law judge of the old Civil Aeronautics
Board, died of a septic infection Nov. 22 at the National Naval Medical
Center in Bethesda. He was 100.
Mr. Wiser began his government career in 1925 as a messenger for the
Naval Research Laboratory. Over the years, he worked as a shipping clerk
and senior accountant clerk at the laboratory.
In 1940, he transferred to the Civil Aeronautics Board and became the
chief administrative law judge before his retirement in 1974.
He later worked for the Air Transport Association and the International
Air Transport Association.
Mr. Wiser volunteered as part-time legal counsel for the elderly at the
AARP from 1982 to 2007. In 2004, the American Bar Association
recognized Mr. Wiser, then 94, as the Most Outstanding Senior Pro Bono
Attorney in the United States.
Ralph Lloyd Wiser was born in Yates Center, N.Y., and grew up in
Prince George's County. He graduated from the old Central High School
in the District and was a 1934 graduate of George Washington University,
where he received a law degree in 1938.
He served in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II and remained
in the Navy Reserve until retiring as a commander in 1970.
His memberships included Chevy Chase Baptist Church, the Cosmos
Club and the Bethesda Country Club.
His first wife, Mae Crosby, died in 1970 after 32 years of marriage. His
second wife, Kathleen Anderson, died in 2003 after 30 years of marriage. A
son from his first marriage, Philip Wiser, died in 2004.
Survivors include two sons from his first marriage, Ralph Wiser Jr. of
Monrovia, Md., and Charles Wiser of Richmond; a stepdaughter, Greta
Drott of Lewes, Del.; a brother, C. Lawrence Wiser of Kensington; 13
grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.
--- Megan Buerger