My Grandpa Ralph
My Grandpa passed away Friday, January 30th 2009 after a fall two weeks earlier from which he never regained consciousness. He was a great man who lived a great life.
Two memorial services were held for him, one in La Mirada, California with 500 people in attendance and another in SLC, Utah with 300 people in attendance. People said of him at the services more than once that he was the most generous man they had ever known. He did most of his service to others anonymously. In fact, any of you that have ever gone to the Los Angeles Temple Visitor's Center have enjoyed his generosity without knowing it. My Grandpa's mission president was S. Dilworth Young. At the end of S. Dilworth Young's life he was the president of the Los Angeles Visitor's Center. To honor him, my grandpa wanted to do something nice for his mission president. My grandpa built and paid for much of the construction of the women's statue garden (based on the Relief Society Monument to Women in Nauvoo, Illinois) in front of the visitor's center. He did this anonymously but my mom felt that now that he has passed on it was appropriate to honor his memory by sharing this deed with those who knew him.
My grandpa knew poverty and riches, health and sickness, ups and downs. He knew how to work hard and he knew how to play hard. As a grandchild he was the most fun grandpa a grandchild could possibly want. In his house was a fireman's pole sliding down from a loft to the room below. His house was full of exciting items he and my grandma had picked up on their numerous trips around the world and nothing ever seemed off limits to look at and enjoy playing with. His yard had a trampoline, a tennis court, a hill with a "rollercoaster" going down the hill, places to explore everywhere, a swimming pool, a waterfall, huge rope swings, 60 of the most delicious tomato plants you have ever eaten and his beloved hammock. It was in the hammock he spent hours telling Rebecca fairy tales. She knows "The Three Little Pigs" and "Goldilocks" because of my grandpa. His garden truly was a paradise and he let anyone and everyone enjoy it. He left behind a loving, wonderful posterity who honor his name.
Two memorial services were held for him, one in La Mirada, California with 500 people in attendance and another in SLC, Utah with 300 people in attendance. People said of him at the services more than once that he was the most generous man they had ever known. He did most of his service to others anonymously. In fact, any of you that have ever gone to the Los Angeles Temple Visitor's Center have enjoyed his generosity without knowing it. My Grandpa's mission president was S. Dilworth Young. At the end of S. Dilworth Young's life he was the president of the Los Angeles Visitor's Center. To honor him, my grandpa wanted to do something nice for his mission president. My grandpa built and paid for much of the construction of the women's statue garden (based on the Relief Society Monument to Women in Nauvoo, Illinois) in front of the visitor's center. He did this anonymously but my mom felt that now that he has passed on it was appropriate to honor his memory by sharing this deed with those who knew him.
Good bye Grandpa Ralph, we will miss you...
(taken in the plane on the way home from Utah)
(taken in the plane on the way home from Utah)
3 comments:
I really want to go play in your grandpa's backyard! What great memories:)
Wish I had one like that. Beautiful tribute.
It was good to see you at Ralph's funeral. This is a wonderful tribute to him. I've started a blog bondia2000.blogspot.com.
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