On March 9th, 2024, Ralph Borthwick passed away unexpectedly. Ralph enjoyed spending time every day on his computer entering sweepstakes and browsing classic cars among other things and jokingly referred to it as his job. While sitting at that computer, he slipped away from us, leaving a gaping hole in so many hearts.

Ralph was born to Evelyn and Eugene Borthwick on October 11, 1948. As a young man, Ralph proudly served his country in Vietnam.

He later settled down and married the love of his life, Mary Linda, and raised two daughters. He spent years working tirelessly to provide a good life for his family as a car salesman. His warmth and honesty earned him a large customer base. Once, when he changed jobs, his employer put an ad in the newspaper informing the community that their favorite car salesman had changed locations.

Friends and family never doubted how much he loved them. That love extended to his entire family, including his in-laws. They knew he was a phone call away if they ever needed his help and he would give the shirt off his own back.

Ralph had many passions in his life which included, Oregon lottery keno, motorcycles, cars, especially classic muscle cars, NASCAR, his garden, and a shared a love for music with his parents and siblings. At family gatherings, Ralph would often bring his guitar and sing with his brothers and sisters. His greatest love, however, was his family, especially his grandchildren. He almost never missed a school play, graduation, or other event in their lives. He was their biggest cheerleader. He also loved taking them on drives through areas he had grown up in and regale them with family stories at almost every bend. As well as point out just about every classic car they passed and tell you all about them.

After his wife passed away in 2009, he eventually remarried. He met and married his second wife, Qiaoling, in China and she then moved to the US. They lived in Albany for the last few years of his life.

Ralph is proceeded in death by his parents, Eugene and Evelyn Borthwick, his wife Mary Linda, and older sister Kathryn (Jim) Hauth. His sister Teresa (Valentine) Hellman passed away shortly after.

He leaves behind his wife Qiaoling of Albany, daughter Diana (David) Beal of Modesto California, and daughter Deborah (Tom) Park of Waterloo Oregon and five grandchildren. He is also survived sister Linda (Chris) Townsend of Albany, brothers Mike and Jack of Albany, and sister Patty (Mike) Sheler of Lebanon, sister-in-law Tony of Salem, and numerous nieces and nephews who will all miss his humor and his love.

If anyone would like to make a donation in his memory to charity, we ask that you choose a local group who helps our soldiers with their mental health or other needs after they return home. Ralph was passionate about helping his fellow veterans lead normal lives after war. When he and our soldiers before him came home from war nobody realized how much emotional trauma they experienced. He didn't want that for those who followed him.

Ralph was laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon with full military honors.