Ralph was born in Ottawa, Illinois on 09/24/31 to Stuart and Elva Hassley Atherton. He attended schools in 4 Mile Grove, Van Horn, Earlville and Mendota. In 1949, he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Fort Benning, Camp McCoy, Sault St Marie, Okinawa and Korea. While serving in the military, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), Korean Service Medal with 6 stars and 3 Purple Hearts.
In June 1952, he married Dorothy Carter and had three children, Karen, Roger and Ron. Ralph and Dorothy owned and operated Atherton Trucking. They were one of the first husband and wife teams to be hired by Clay Hyder Truck Lines.
Ralph was a lifetime member of the Taro Leafers, Elks Lodge 1212, and Disabled American Veterans, a member in good standing with the American Legion Post 0511 in Paw Paw, Illinois and the VFW Post 4079 in Mendota, Illinois. He was a member of the Paw Paw Methodist Church until moving to Florida. After moving to Florida, he became a member of the North Lakeland Presbyterian Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Stuart and Elva Atherton, brother Bob Atherton and nephew Mike Atherton.
Ralph is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy Atherton, daughter Karen Atherton Moore and husband Randy, son Roger Atherton and wife Jolynn, and son Ron Atherton and wife Tammy. He was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Ralph was a great husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and he will be in our hearts forever.
Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday 3/24 at North Lakeland Presbyterian Church at 3:30pm. Interment will be located at the Military Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice of Auburndale.
Published in the Ledger on 3/24/2009
Ralph was born in Ottawa, Illinois on 09/24/31 to Stuart and Elva Hassley Atherton. He attended schools in 4 Mile Grove, Van Horn, Earlville and Mendota. In 1949, he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Fort Benning, Camp McCoy, Sault St Marie, Okinawa and Korea. While serving in the military, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), Korean Service Medal with 6 stars and 3 Purple Hearts.
In June 1952, he married Dorothy Carter and had three children, Karen, Roger and Ron. Ralph and Dorothy owned and operated Atherton Trucking. They were one of the first husband and wife teams to be hired by Clay Hyder Truck Lines.
Ralph was a lifetime member of the Taro Leafers, Elks Lodge 1212, and Disabled American Veterans, a member in good standing with the American Legion Post 0511 in Paw Paw, Illinois and the VFW Post 4079 in Mendota, Illinois. He was a member of the Paw Paw Methodist Church until moving to Florida. After moving to Florida, he became a member of the North Lakeland Presbyterian Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Stuart and Elva Atherton, brother Bob Atherton and nephew Mike Atherton.
Ralph is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy Atherton, daughter Karen Atherton Moore and husband Randy, son Roger Atherton and wife Jolynn, and son Ron Atherton and wife Tammy. He was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Ralph was a great husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and he will be in our hearts forever.
Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday 3/24 at North Lakeland Presbyterian Church at 3:30pm. Interment will be located at the Military Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice of Auburndale.
Published in the Ledger on 3/24/2009
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