Ralph B. Houser Jr. of Vancouver, Wash., succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease on Sept. 25, 2008, at the age of 77. He was born Dec. 27, 1930, in Bellingham and graduated from high school in Bonaparte, Iowa, in 1948. Immediately after graduation from high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and chose the aviation electronics career field.
In 1952, he married Emma Lou Cheeseman who preceded him in death in 2001. Ralph’s years in the Navy included tours of duty in Alaska, Hawaii, the Philippines, Japan, and numerous bases and home ports up and down the Pacific coast. His family traveled with him when they could. Ralph loved the Navy life and after 20 years of active service, and 10 years in the Fleet Reserve, he retired as a lieutenant. In 1968, he settled his family in Oak Harbor where he went to work for the Civil Service as an electronics and radar technician at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. In 1976, he left the Civil Service to attend college and earned an associate in arts degree from Skagit Valley College in 1977. Ralph loved to read (mostly sci-fi) and dabbled in some writing of his own. His hobbies included ham radio, model railroading and being skunked by the trout at Cranberry Lake. Other career pursuits included working for Hayes T.V. in Oak Harbor and driving a big rig semi-truck throughout the Midwest. Ralph and Lou also enjoyed touring the United States and Canada together in their travel trailer. When Lou became ill in 1990 with Parkinson’s disease, they were forced to discontinue their travels and settled in Burlington near family. Ralph moved to Vancouver in 2004, to be with his eldest son, when he became ill with Alzheimer’s disease.
Survivors include his sons, Ralph B. III, Richard, David, and daughter Coletta, 10 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. Ralph has chosen to be buried at sea, but a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at Burley Funeral Chapel, 30 SE Ely St., Oak Harbor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 N. Randolph St. Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203-1977
