Ralph Grant Walton (1917-1975)
Son of George Wade Walton (1884-1953) and Mabel G. Walton (1889-1967), who six children.
Ralph grew up and married Ruth M. Walton (1916-1984). He got into the shipping business and lastly, was an oiler on the freighter, S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. Having sailed on many of Columbia 's ships, the majority of his time was spent on the "S.S. Frank Purnell" as conveyor man. His brother, Wade, also sailed for Columbia as Chief Engineer on many ships, including the Fitzgerald in the 1970s.
Not wanting to leave the ship in the winter, he always volunteered for the position of winter ship keeper on the freighter he was working on. On Novembers 10, 1975 "the gales of November came early" and the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a storm on Lake Superior. As the 4-8 shift was the preferred watch for senior members of the crew, he was on-duty when the Fitzgerald sank, going down with the ship.
As the Gordon Lightfoot song lyrics go:
"In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed, in the "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral. The church bell chimed 'til it rang 29 times, for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.".
Ralph's widow relocated to Fremont, Ohio. An older brother and sister live near their hometown. Son, Alan, last worked as First Assistant Engineer for the American Steamship Co. and lives in New Hampshire.
Source: Edmund Fitzgerald online memorial
Contributor: nj #48701223
Son of George Wade Walton (1884-1953) and Mabel G. Walton (1889-1967), who six children.
Ralph grew up and married Ruth M. Walton (1916-1984). He got into the shipping business and lastly, was an oiler on the freighter, S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. Having sailed on many of Columbia 's ships, the majority of his time was spent on the "S.S. Frank Purnell" as conveyor man. His brother, Wade, also sailed for Columbia as Chief Engineer on many ships, including the Fitzgerald in the 1970s.
Not wanting to leave the ship in the winter, he always volunteered for the position of winter ship keeper on the freighter he was working on. On Novembers 10, 1975 "the gales of November came early" and the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a storm on Lake Superior. As the 4-8 shift was the preferred watch for senior members of the crew, he was on-duty when the Fitzgerald sank, going down with the ship.
As the Gordon Lightfoot song lyrics go:
"In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed, in the "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral. The church bell chimed 'til it rang 29 times, for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.".
Ralph's widow relocated to Fremont, Ohio. An older brother and sister live near their hometown. Son, Alan, last worked as First Assistant Engineer for the American Steamship Co. and lives in New Hampshire.
Source: Edmund Fitzgerald online memorial
Contributor: nj #48701223
Ralph Grant Walton (1917-1975)
Son of George Wade Walton (1884-1953) and Mabel G. Walton (1889-1967), who six children.
Ralph grew up and married Ruth M. Walton (1916-1984). He got into the shipping business and lastly, was an oiler on the freighter, S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. Having sailed on many of Columbia 's ships, the majority of his time was spent on the "S.S. Frank Purnell" as conveyor man. His brother, Wade, also sailed for Columbia as Chief Engineer on many ships, including the Fitzgerald in the 1970s.
Not wanting to leave the ship in the winter, he always volunteered for the position of winter ship keeper on the freighter he was working on. On Novembers 10, 1975 "the gales of November came early" and the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a storm on Lake Superior. As the 4-8 shift was the preferred watch for senior members of the crew, he was on-duty when the Fitzgerald sank, going down with the ship.
As the Gordon Lightfoot song lyrics go:
"In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed, in the "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral. The church bell chimed 'til it rang 29 times, for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.".
Ralph's widow relocated to Fremont, Ohio. An older brother and sister live near their hometown. Son, Alan, last worked as First Assistant Engineer for the American Steamship Co. and lives in New Hampshire.
Source: Edmund Fitzgerald online memorial
Contributor: nj #48701223
Son of George Wade Walton (1884-1953) and Mabel G. Walton (1889-1967), who six children.
Ralph grew up and married Ruth M. Walton (1916-1984). He got into the shipping business and lastly, was an oiler on the freighter, S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. Having sailed on many of Columbia 's ships, the majority of his time was spent on the "S.S. Frank Purnell" as conveyor man. His brother, Wade, also sailed for Columbia as Chief Engineer on many ships, including the Fitzgerald in the 1970s.
Not wanting to leave the ship in the winter, he always volunteered for the position of winter ship keeper on the freighter he was working on. On Novembers 10, 1975 "the gales of November came early" and the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a storm on Lake Superior. As the 4-8 shift was the preferred watch for senior members of the crew, he was on-duty when the Fitzgerald sank, going down with the ship.
As the Gordon Lightfoot song lyrics go:
"In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed, in the "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral. The church bell chimed 'til it rang 29 times, for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.".
Ralph's widow relocated to Fremont, Ohio. An older brother and sister live near their hometown. Son, Alan, last worked as First Assistant Engineer for the American Steamship Co. and lives in New Hampshire.
Source: Edmund Fitzgerald online memorial
Contributor: nj #48701223
