Obituary of Ralph Emerson

Ralph Emerson USAF Ret., 80, passed away at his home on December 20, 2010 surrounded by his family after a courageous 2 year fight against cancer. Ralph was born April 26, 1930 in Middletown, OH to Lula Jane & Kelly Albert Emerson. At age 17, he enlisted in the Merchant Marines from 1947 to 1949; then enlisted in the US Army from 1949 to 1952, and later joined the US Air Force in 1954, retiring in 1971. Tours of duty took him to the Great Lakes, Guam, Saudi Arabia and the Pentagon working in the Cables branch for the Dept. of Defense. After his retirement with the armed forces, he worked at the US Post Office until retiring in 1992. He was an avid ham radio operator, fisherman and U of A fan. In his earlier years he also enjoyed competing in dance roller skating. We will greatly miss his sense of humor and fighting spirit. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 ¾ years, Juanita Marie, four children, Brenda Kay, Cheryl Ann, Jeffrey Alan and William Kelly, seven beautiful grandchildren, Brian, Ben, Trevor, Danielle, Taylor, Jamie & Zach. He is also survived by his brother, Glenn and sisters Wilma Castronuovo and Loma Bolling