Ralph Herbert Hinds

May 30, 1924 — April 22, 2018

Ralph H. Hinds of Albany, passed away in this home at the age of 93 on Sunday, April 22.

Ralph was born in Coos Bay, Oregon on May 30, 1924 to Ralph H. Hinds Sr and Ruth Pimm Hinds. He grew up in rural Coos County on a chicken farm with his three older brothers. Ralph graduated from Marshfield High School in Coos Bay in June of 1942 and went almost immediately to San Mateo, California to begin his higher education with the Merchant Marine Academy.

He graduated from King's Point, the Merchant Marine Academy in May of 1945 with a commission in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant Junior Grade.  Ralph served on supply vessels until his discharge in May of 1946.

Ralph then lived in California for a time, working on the steam ship that traveled to Catalina Island from Long Island Harbor as an engineer.

In the early 1950's, he married his first wife Ann and they lived on a small farm near Halsey. He then began working as a supervisor in the milling industry and in 1970 opened his own company, R Hinds Corporation that he ran up to his 70th birthday.

In 1976, he married his second wife, Elizabeth S. Hinds and they enjoyed many happy years of marriage until her death in 2011. Ralph then enjoyed working on this blacksmithing hobby, even helping with demonstrations at Fort Vancouver and at the Steam Up in Brooks, Oregon.

In his later years, he liked to "work" on trains and travel the world with his youngest daughter.

Ralph is survived by his daughter, Darlene Hickman of Milwaukee, Oregon; stepdaughter, Kathy Dannen of Lebanon; stepson, Thomas Kurrasch of Portland, Oregon; stepdaughter Carla Kurrasch of Turner, Oregon; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Ralph was preceded in death by his son, Bill in the 1970's.

A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 5 at Willamette Memorial Park in Albany. After the service, there will be a gathering of friends and family to celebrate Ralph's life at his home in North Albany.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com).