Obituary for
SEELEY ELWIN RALPHS
August 23, 1930 - September 9, 2006
The family wishes to take this opportunity to celebrate the life of Seeley Elwin Ralphs, and honor the memory of him as husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Born August 23, 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah, son of Elwin and Etta Seely Ralphs, Seeley grew up on a farm in Clawson, Emery County, Utah. He loved the sheep and horses he tended, and learned patience and caring for all of God's creatures. This compassion for others carried through in all his endeavors.
After graduating from South Emery High School, and attending Carbon College, he enlisted in the United States Army. After his time in active duty, he was assigned to the Army Reserves, and in 1954 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He retired as a Lt. Colonel in August, 1990. He loved his country and it gave him great joy to serve. He was a master aviator in both fixed wing and helicopters, and he was a master marksman.
In addition to his military service, Seeley served as a California Highway Patrolman from 1957 to 1965. He worked in Compton and Watts, Southern California, then transferred to Sacramento in 1958. He was the first "eyes in the sky" police traffic reporter for KCRA, providing live radio traffic reports from the air.
Injury from a Highway Patrol motorcycle accident resulted in his retirement from the CHP. He then worked as an aeronautical engineer for the Department of the U.S. Air Force at McClellan AFB in Sacramento, California. He retired in 1990 after 25 years of service.
While stationed at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California, he met and fell in love with F. Vivian Ball. They were married for time and all eternity on November 18, 1950 in the St. George Temple, St. George, Utah. They have three children: Joyce Lynn Wahlquist, Diane Marie Coffman, and Mark Alan Ralphs.
He fought a courageous battle against Stage IV Melanoma cancer for over 10 years, ending on September 9, 2006. He never complained, lost his sense of humor, or questioned, "Why me, Lord?" He had a great love of music and sang at every opportunity until cancer took his voice in 2002. During this time of personal trial he served as a Chaplain for the Amador County California Sheriff's Department. He felt his life had been so blessed, he wanted to give back in community service. He counseled and consoled others in their times of grief. His LDS church service included serving in two bishoprics, on the stake high council, on four stake missions, and as a temple worker for 11 years in the Oakland Temple.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian, and their children: Joyce (John) Wahlquist, Woodbridge, Virginia; Diane (Gordon) Coffman, Provo, Utah; and Mark (Peggy) Ralphs, Diamond Springs, California; nine grandchildren: Ellen (Jon) Durrough, Mercer Island, Washington; Grant (Katie) Wahlquist, Okinawa, Japan; Laura (Chris) Jones, Springville, Utah; Rachel Wahlquist, Burke, Virginia; Andrew (Ellisa) Wahlquist, Bellevue, Washington; Jason Ralphs, BYU-Idaho; Katie, Kevin, and Rebecca Ralphs, Diamond Springs, California; and seven great-grandchildren: Sarah Dorrough, Alex and Max Wahlquist, Tyler and Haley Jones, and Brent and Anna Wahlquist.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 15, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Provo, Utah Stake Center located at 1315 E 900 S, Provo, Utah. Interment will take place in the Ferron City Cemetery, Emery County, Utah.
SEELEY ELWIN RALPHS
August 23, 1930 - September 9, 2006
The family wishes to take this opportunity to celebrate the life of Seeley Elwin Ralphs, and honor the memory of him as husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Born August 23, 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah, son of Elwin and Etta Seely Ralphs, Seeley grew up on a farm in Clawson, Emery County, Utah. He loved the sheep and horses he tended, and learned patience and caring for all of God's creatures. This compassion for others carried through in all his endeavors.
After graduating from South Emery High School, and attending Carbon College, he enlisted in the United States Army. After his time in active duty, he was assigned to the Army Reserves, and in 1954 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He retired as a Lt. Colonel in August, 1990. He loved his country and it gave him great joy to serve. He was a master aviator in both fixed wing and helicopters, and he was a master marksman.
In addition to his military service, Seeley served as a California Highway Patrolman from 1957 to 1965. He worked in Compton and Watts, Southern California, then transferred to Sacramento in 1958. He was the first "eyes in the sky" police traffic reporter for KCRA, providing live radio traffic reports from the air.
Injury from a Highway Patrol motorcycle accident resulted in his retirement from the CHP. He then worked as an aeronautical engineer for the Department of the U.S. Air Force at McClellan AFB in Sacramento, California. He retired in 1990 after 25 years of service.
While stationed at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California, he met and fell in love with F. Vivian Ball. They were married for time and all eternity on November 18, 1950 in the St. George Temple, St. George, Utah. They have three children: Joyce Lynn Wahlquist, Diane Marie Coffman, and Mark Alan Ralphs.
He fought a courageous battle against Stage IV Melanoma cancer for over 10 years, ending on September 9, 2006. He never complained, lost his sense of humor, or questioned, "Why me, Lord?" He had a great love of music and sang at every opportunity until cancer took his voice in 2002. During this time of personal trial he served as a Chaplain for the Amador County California Sheriff's Department. He felt his life had been so blessed, he wanted to give back in community service. He counseled and consoled others in their times of grief. His LDS church service included serving in two bishoprics, on the stake high council, on four stake missions, and as a temple worker for 11 years in the Oakland Temple.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian, and their children: Joyce (John) Wahlquist, Woodbridge, Virginia; Diane (Gordon) Coffman, Provo, Utah; and Mark (Peggy) Ralphs, Diamond Springs, California; nine grandchildren: Ellen (Jon) Durrough, Mercer Island, Washington; Grant (Katie) Wahlquist, Okinawa, Japan; Laura (Chris) Jones, Springville, Utah; Rachel Wahlquist, Burke, Virginia; Andrew (Ellisa) Wahlquist, Bellevue, Washington; Jason Ralphs, BYU-Idaho; Katie, Kevin, and Rebecca Ralphs, Diamond Springs, California; and seven great-grandchildren: Sarah Dorrough, Alex and Max Wahlquist, Tyler and Haley Jones, and Brent and Anna Wahlquist.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 15, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Provo, Utah Stake Center located at 1315 E 900 S, Provo, Utah. Interment will take place in the Ferron City Cemetery, Emery County, Utah.
Obituary for
SEELEY ELWIN RALPHS
August 23, 1930 - September 9, 2006
The family wishes to take this opportunity to celebrate the life of Seeley Elwin Ralphs, and honor the memory of him as husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Born August 23, 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah, son of Elwin and Etta Seely Ralphs, Seeley grew up on a farm in Clawson, Emery County, Utah. He loved the sheep and horses he tended, and learned patience and caring for all of God's creatures. This compassion for others carried through in all his endeavors.
After graduating from South Emery High School, and attending Carbon College, he enlisted in the United States Army. After his time in active duty, he was assigned to the Army Reserves, and in 1954 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He retired as a Lt. Colonel in August, 1990. He loved his country and it gave him great joy to serve. He was a master aviator in both fixed wing and helicopters, and he was a master marksman.
In addition to his military service, Seeley served as a California Highway Patrolman from 1957 to 1965. He worked in Compton and Watts, Southern California, then transferred to Sacramento in 1958. He was the first "eyes in the sky" police traffic reporter for KCRA, providing live radio traffic reports from the air.
Injury from a Highway Patrol motorcycle accident resulted in his retirement from the CHP. He then worked as an aeronautical engineer for the Department of the U.S. Air Force at McClellan AFB in Sacramento, California. He retired in 1990 after 25 years of service.
While stationed at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California, he met and fell in love with F. Vivian Ball. They were married for time and all eternity on November 18, 1950 in the St. George Temple, St. George, Utah. They have three children: Joyce Lynn Wahlquist, Diane Marie Coffman, and Mark Alan Ralphs.
He fought a courageous battle against Stage IV Melanoma cancer for over 10 years, ending on September 9, 2006. He never complained, lost his sense of humor, or questioned, "Why me, Lord?" He had a great love of music and sang at every opportunity until cancer took his voice in 2002. During this time of personal trial he served as a Chaplain for the Amador County California Sheriff's Department. He felt his life had been so blessed, he wanted to give back in community service. He counseled and consoled others in their times of grief. His LDS church service included serving in two bishoprics, on the stake high council, on four stake missions, and as a temple worker for 11 years in the Oakland Temple.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian, and their children: Joyce (John) Wahlquist, Woodbridge, Virginia; Diane (Gordon) Coffman, Provo, Utah; and Mark (Peggy) Ralphs, Diamond Springs, California; nine grandchildren: Ellen (Jon) Durrough, Mercer Island, Washington; Grant (Katie) Wahlquist, Okinawa, Japan; Laura (Chris) Jones, Springville, Utah; Rachel Wahlquist, Burke, Virginia; Andrew (Ellisa) Wahlquist, Bellevue, Washington; Jason Ralphs, BYU-Idaho; Katie, Kevin, and Rebecca Ralphs, Diamond Springs, California; and seven great-grandchildren: Sarah Dorrough, Alex and Max Wahlquist, Tyler and Haley Jones, and Brent and Anna Wahlquist.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 15, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Provo, Utah Stake Center located at 1315 E 900 S, Provo, Utah. Interment will take place in the Ferron City Cemetery, Emery County, Utah.
SEELEY ELWIN RALPHS
August 23, 1930 - September 9, 2006
The family wishes to take this opportunity to celebrate the life of Seeley Elwin Ralphs, and honor the memory of him as husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Born August 23, 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah, son of Elwin and Etta Seely Ralphs, Seeley grew up on a farm in Clawson, Emery County, Utah. He loved the sheep and horses he tended, and learned patience and caring for all of God's creatures. This compassion for others carried through in all his endeavors.
After graduating from South Emery High School, and attending Carbon College, he enlisted in the United States Army. After his time in active duty, he was assigned to the Army Reserves, and in 1954 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He retired as a Lt. Colonel in August, 1990. He loved his country and it gave him great joy to serve. He was a master aviator in both fixed wing and helicopters, and he was a master marksman.
In addition to his military service, Seeley served as a California Highway Patrolman from 1957 to 1965. He worked in Compton and Watts, Southern California, then transferred to Sacramento in 1958. He was the first "eyes in the sky" police traffic reporter for KCRA, providing live radio traffic reports from the air.
Injury from a Highway Patrol motorcycle accident resulted in his retirement from the CHP. He then worked as an aeronautical engineer for the Department of the U.S. Air Force at McClellan AFB in Sacramento, California. He retired in 1990 after 25 years of service.
While stationed at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California, he met and fell in love with F. Vivian Ball. They were married for time and all eternity on November 18, 1950 in the St. George Temple, St. George, Utah. They have three children: Joyce Lynn Wahlquist, Diane Marie Coffman, and Mark Alan Ralphs.
He fought a courageous battle against Stage IV Melanoma cancer for over 10 years, ending on September 9, 2006. He never complained, lost his sense of humor, or questioned, "Why me, Lord?" He had a great love of music and sang at every opportunity until cancer took his voice in 2002. During this time of personal trial he served as a Chaplain for the Amador County California Sheriff's Department. He felt his life had been so blessed, he wanted to give back in community service. He counseled and consoled others in their times of grief. His LDS church service included serving in two bishoprics, on the stake high council, on four stake missions, and as a temple worker for 11 years in the Oakland Temple.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian, and their children: Joyce (John) Wahlquist, Woodbridge, Virginia; Diane (Gordon) Coffman, Provo, Utah; and Mark (Peggy) Ralphs, Diamond Springs, California; nine grandchildren: Ellen (Jon) Durrough, Mercer Island, Washington; Grant (Katie) Wahlquist, Okinawa, Japan; Laura (Chris) Jones, Springville, Utah; Rachel Wahlquist, Burke, Virginia; Andrew (Ellisa) Wahlquist, Bellevue, Washington; Jason Ralphs, BYU-Idaho; Katie, Kevin, and Rebecca Ralphs, Diamond Springs, California; and seven great-grandchildren: Sarah Dorrough, Alex and Max Wahlquist, Tyler and Haley Jones, and Brent and Anna Wahlquist.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 15, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Provo, Utah Stake Center located at 1315 E 900 S, Provo, Utah. Interment will take place in the Ferron City Cemetery, Emery County, Utah.
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