Ralph R. Younce was born on April 10, 1936 in Fossil, Oregon and he died in Albany on May 5, 2011 at the age of 75 following a long illness.

Ralph was the second child of five children born to John and Grace (Arne) Younce. The family lived on a small ranch in Wheeler County Oregon. Ralph attended Spray Elementary School in Spray, Oregon, the Cove Elementary School near Winlock, Oregon, Fossil Elementary School in Fossil, Oregon, Wheeler County High School in Fossil, Oregon and Spray High Union School in Spray, Oregon graduating from Spray High School in 1954. On July 20, 1954, he entered the US Army and was discharged on December 20, 1958. He attended and graduated from Western National School of Heavy Equipment Operation in 1959. From 1961 to 1965, he attended and graduated from Eastern Oregon State College and began his career in education. He married Elsie Rivera who had been a classmate in college in December of 1966. Ralph received a Masters Degree from Oregon State University in August of 1977 and then completed the Standard School Administrators program at the University of Oregon in 1979.

He entered the US Army in 1954 as a volunteer draftee along with four others from Wheeler County. Following Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Ord, California, Ralph was assigned to the 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment which was part of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After six weeks of rigorous training, (both physical and mental) Ralph Graduated from Jump School and became a Paratrooper in February 1955. On March 1, 1955, he reenlisted for four years and joined the 508th Airborne Regimental Combat Team at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In July of 1955 the 508th ARCT was airlifted to Southern Japan and the battalion that Ralph was in was stationed in Beppu, Japan. In July of 1956, the 508th was recalled to the States
and the battalion that he was in became the First Airborne Battle Group 506th Infantry which was part of the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles). Ralph spent the rest of his military career as an Infantry Communications Specialist with the 506th. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in December of 1958.

Following his four years and five months in the Army, Ralph worked in Logging, primarily as a timber faller, and in Construction as a heavy equipment operator until September of 1961. In September of 1961 he enrolled at Eastern Oregon State College. Ralph graduated from Eastern in August of 1965 with a degree in elementary education and moved to Lebanon to teach at Denny School. He spent the next twenty six years in Lebanon and Albany as an elementary teacher and school administrator. He was the CETA coordinator for the newly formed Gaps District for two years and was also principal of five different elementary schools in the district. Ralph retired from education in 1992.

Ralph spent his retirement years traveling, volunteering, hunting fishing, working on timber land that he owned in Eastern Oregon and enjoying his granddaughters.

Ralph was a past member of the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Linn-Benton Principal's Association, the Oregon National Guard, the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the Albany Elks Lodge, the Albany Eagles Lodge, American Legion, Takena Kiwanis, Board of Directors of Linn-Co Federal Credit Union, life member of the 101st Airborne Division Association and Vice President of the Cascade Chapter of the 101st Airborne Division Association.

Ralph is survived by his wife Elsie of Albany, son Brian Younce, daughter-in-law Shari and granddaughters Kelsie and Kaylie of Gresham, Oregon, sister Sandra Millspaugh of Grants Pass, Oregon and forty plus nieces and nephews of various degrees scattered throughout Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Hawaii. Ralph also has several cousins in the West and on the East Coast.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents John B. and Grace (Arne) Younce, brothers Don M. and John P. and Raymond D. and his beloved daughter Deborah Lynn Younce.

Funeral Mass will be at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albany on Wednesday, May 11 , at 11a.m. Graveside committal services will follow at Willamette Memorial Park in Albany.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Boys and Girls Club of Albany, Salvation Army in Albany or St. Mary's School in Albany.

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