Ralph "Howard" Brendlinger

Ralph "Howard" Brendlinger, 98, of Charleston, South Carolina, passed away on March 24, 2026.

Born on October 3, 1927, in Pitcairn, PA. Howard was the son of the late Dorothy (Maines) and the Ralph Brendlinger. He was married to Jean (Reid) Brendlinger for 76 wonderful years.

Howard lived in Pitcairn for the first 85 years of his life, and then moved to Charleston, SC to be closer to his daughter.

Howard loved the Lord, his family, and all things sports (especially the Pittsburgh Steelers). He dropped out of high school at the age of 17 to join the United State Navy. When he was discharged at the end of World War II, Howard returned to Pitcairn to complete high school and marry the love of his life, Jean Reid, in 1947. Howard retired from Redland Brick in 1992 as a supervisor.

He was very active in his church (formerly Highland Avenue United Methodist Church in Pitcairn, and Grace Baptist Church in Monroeville). For many years he taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. Howard was very involved in his community volunteering as a firefighter for Pitcairn Hose Company #1 for 18 years, and later with the Pitcairn food pantry.

In addition to his parents, Howard is preceded in death by his beloved wife Lillian "Jean" Brendlinger, his beloved son Timothy Ralph Brendlinger, and two sisters Violet Sotak, and Mary Alice McCann.

Howard is survived by his daughter, Wendy Meacher and her husband David; daughter-in-law Karen Brendlinger; and three granddaughters Keri Brendlinger, Dawn Rhame and her husband Robert, and Ashley Snider-Veith and her husband David; 8 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be planned at a later date. Burial will be held at Restland Memorial Park in Monroeville, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Baptist Church: 4518 Northern Pike, Monroeville, PA 15146 -or- Grace on the Ashley Baptist Church: 2025 Bees Ferry Rd, Charleston, SC 29414.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, (843) 722-29169.