Ralph Claude Wales

Longtime Walla Walla resident, Ralph Claude Wales, 73, died at Providence St. Mary Hospital on Jan. 7, 2014. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, at Mountain View Cemetery Walla Walla. Memorial contributions may be made to College Place Presbyterian Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #992 or charity of donor’s choice through the Herring Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.

Ralph Claude Wales born to Harold Kelso Wales and Hazel Alta Ehrhard Wales in Greybull, Wyo. on Sept. 27, 1940. Ralph attended school in Basin, Wyo., and graduated from Basin High School in 1958. Ralph joined the Navy in August 1958 and served until September 1962, receiving an honorable discharge. He was briefly married and had a daughter Patty. He served in the North Alantic, Mediterranean, Cuba, Africa and crossed the Equator. His ship was based at Newport, R.I. He served aboard the USS Salamonie A0-26. When discharged from the Navy, he moved to Walla Walla.

He married Cheryl Dorsch and they had two children, Cindi and Darrin. They later divorced. In 1996, he married Dianne Leinbach. Ralph was employed by various trucking companies over 43 years, mainly Garrett Freight Lines and Wilbur Ellis. He retired from USF Reddaway in January 2006. After being retired for a couple of years, he took a part- time job driving a school bus for College Place School District.

Surviving are his wife at home; two daughters, Patty Wagner and husband Tom of Killingworth, Conn., and Cindi Gies and husband Tony of Walla Walla; son, Darrin and his wife Crystal of Walla Walla; two step-daughters, Tracie Lytle and husband Bob of Clearfield, Penn., and Jodie Marshall of Richland; seven grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and two great-step grandchildren; three sisters, Joyce Cole and husband Don of Camarillo, Calif., Arlene Ginder and husband Fred of Bremerton, Wash., and Phyllis Short of Austin, Texas.

He was a member of the College Place Presbyterian Church and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #26, a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge #287 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #992.