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Wilbur W. Ralph Wilbur W. Ralph was born at Carrol, Iowa to William Z. Ralph and Grace E. Handley Ralph on August 29, 1916. He passed away at Lakes Regional Healthcare, Spirit Lake, on March 28, 2005. He attended county school northeast of Sac City, then Lyton and Webb, Iowa. While living at Sac City, Wilbur and his brother Robert would take show cattle to the Sac County Fair then on to the Iowa State Fair, winning many ribbons. During WW II Wilbur was employed by Mariship Corporation, a ship yard, Sausalito, California as a certified pipe fitter and a certified gas and electric welder. He loved sharing moments of working in the ship yard and adventures he had white accompanying ships from the yard while on their sea trials. Following WWII, the family returned to Webb where Ralph opened the Ralph Electric. When R. E. A. was bring electric service to the rural area Wilbur wired many farmsteads, so many, he lost count. In 1949 Wilbur started his employment with Iowa Electric Light and Power, now Alliant Energy. He worked out of Webb until 1957 at which time he moved to Spirit Lake and worked out of the Spirit Lake location. Wilbur’s retirement was April 1, 1982 after 32 years of I.E. service. Wilbur loved amateur radio. He spent many hours with this hobby. His call letters were WØDFV. In later years, he spent less time on amateur radio, but became interested in computers. He met on Fridays mornings with the computer group which meets at the Spirit Lake High School. He also loved fishing locally, in northern Minnesota or Canada. Wilbur was preceded in death by his wife, Daphne, parents, William and Grace, a brother, Robert, two sisters, Grace June Jordan and Mary Darling, step son, Dennis Moore, and step daughter, LaDonna Moore. Surviving are his son, Wendell and Linda Ralph of Janesvile, Iowa, daughter, Shirley and Darwin (Jim) Stethem, Marathon, Iowa, and step sons, Garold and Marita Moore, Thornton, Colorado and Art and Jan Moore, Pequot Lakes, Minnesota. He also is survived by grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, and special friend, Esther Johnson. IN MEMORY SERVICE CLERGY MUSIC PALLBEARERS INTERMENT |