Charles F. Ralph

May 15, 1939 ~ December 27, 2024
Born in:
Detroit, MI
Resided in:
Lakewood, CO
Charles F. Ralph of Lakewood, Colorado passed away peacefully on December 27, 2024 at St Anthony Hospital/Lakewood following a cardiac arrest at the gym. He was 85 years old.
Charles, or Chuck as he preferred, was born on May 15,1939 to Charles F. Sr and Mary L. (DeFever) Ralph in Detroit, Michigan where he spent his childhood and formative years. Following graduation from high school in 1957, Chuck studied mechanical/electrical. Engineering at General Motors Institute (GMI Flint, MI) and Wayne State University (Detroit,Mi). He received degrees from both institutions in the 1960s, which ultimately led to employment with General Motors in Warren, MI for 11 years, then Eastman-Kodak in Rochester, NY and Kingsport,TN before relocating to Lakewood, CO in 1974 to work for the US Bureau of Reclamation, followed by jobs at Rocky Flats Nuclear Plant, and short term engineering contracts with Raytheon Corp and other firms. He was especially proud of an assignment at McMurdo Station Antarctica helping redesign livable space for scientists working there.
Chuck met and fell in love with his late wife, Shizuko Honda, during this time, and they were married in 1991. 31 years together as soulmates enjoying traveling, ballroom dancing, walking, gardening, as well as spending time with their families and many friends.
Chuck reluctantly retired from a career he loved in 2015, but soon came to enjoy the freedom. He was a voracious reader, and now had time to study military history and related biographies, his favorite subjects.
Chuck is survived by his only sibling, sister Marian K Gormley (John “Jack” Sullivan) of Ann Arbor, MI, niece, Audrey Gormley-Veasley(Vino) and her children, Quinn and Iman of Saline, MI.
Plans for a memorial service in March are in complete at this time. Donations to American Heart Association would be greatly appreciated.
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