January 15, 1926 – May 13, 2017

Ralph was born in Revelstoke BC into a railroading family-his dad (Marino) and uncle (Pete) came to Canada before WW I and joined the CPR as labourers. Marino became a Section Foreman in Golden BC, then Monte Creek BC

Marino and his wife Lucia had 3 children–Ralph was sandwiched between Ines, 2 years older and Hector, 4 years younger. Early years were spent in Golden BC and then Monte Creek BC, just east of Kamloops. Schooling there was offered in a one room school with 12-15 students covering grades 1 – 8, older ones helping the younger. In this small village the main activities for children were conducted outdoors—playing, creek and river fishing, skating, squirrel hunting, sling-shots, mountain climbing, and watching the CPR trains whiz by. Ralph, Ines and Hector grew-up close to their Revelstoke cousins-Arthur, Clelia, Mondo and Alma; children of uncle Pete; visiting frequently with mother who often helped the family after Pete’s wife died young. 

After grade 8 Ralph/Ines drove to Kamloops daily to attend Kamloops High School. Without finishing high school, Ralph decided to join the CPR as a wiper in North Bend. In 1944 he volunteered for the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders in Vancouver, trained in Calgary and went to England in early 1945. He was posted to Germany to replace battle veterans who were being quickly repatriated home. He was there for more than a year where he saw the aftermath of the mayhem of war. Returning to Kamloops he became a fireman and then an engineer on CPR locomotives in Kamloops. Later, he transferred to Vancouver as an engineer but subsequently became the “Rules Instructor”—overseeing classroom instruction, testing of managers, superintendents, running trades, and maintenance employees in BC. 

He retired from the CPR at age 61 but soon found he had too much idle time, so he joined the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires which was open to Army veterans. After a variety of postings at military bases, his last posting was at the BC-Wash. State border where he met his wife Eva. Then both retired and lived in Abbotsford where they golfed extensively in the BC lower mainland and additionally in California/Arizona in the winters. Once did a cross Canada trip, golfing all the way to the Maritimes and back. 

In 2013 Ralph’s progressing Alzheimer’s made it necessary to sell their home and move to a Senior’s condo still in Abbotsford, later Ralph went to a nearby Nursing Home where he resided until his death. Ralph was predeceased by sister Ines McQuay, a long time nurse at the Burris Clinic in Kamloops and her husband Bob McQuay–like Ralph, a CPR engineer in Kamloops.

Ralph will be missed by his wife Eva, brother Hector (Ola) and by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. 
He had no children of his own, but was known as “uncle Ralph” to all youngsters of family and friends. 
Ralph always enjoyed gatherings, family or not, and used his story telling ability to regale young and old with his exploits, perhaps exaggerated by never dull.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

 

• Date : 2017-05-13
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.