Parents: Alfonzo and Isabel Cruz
The fifth child of twelve siblings. Growing up in St. Joseph, surrounded by family, faith and love, Ralph developed a great sense of compassion and caring for others. He would spread these important attributes to the lives of everyone he touched.
As a youngster, Ralph was a remarkable athlete and pretty good prankster. Playing many sports, his favorite was basketball. At Christian Brothers High School, Ralph was a leader on the hardwood, the captain of his team for two years, leading scorer and an all-conference player. In 1954 Ralph helped lead CBHS to the city championship. A relentless drive and a fierce competitor Ralph never backed down. Ralph's basketball skills earned him a college scholarship. Ralph was a mischievous boy; he was either causing trouble or he was in trouble.
Ralph joined the United States Air Force after graduation. Serving our country for twenty years, Ralph traveled to many locations in world. Learning and sharing different cultures. Ralph served during the Vietnam War and survived a bombing attack at the base he was stationed in Ubon, Thailand. Ralph loved his country. He retired from the Air Force in 1975.
Ralph met the "love of his life" before he was born. Juanita M. Guardado. Ralph's parents are Juanita's Godparents. Childhood sweethearts and known troublemakers, Ralph and Juanita ruled sixth street in St. Joseph. This remarkable couple were married in St. Joseph on June 7, 1958. Together Ralph and Juanita would now reach-out to the world. Loving, discipline, hugs, laughter, church celebrations, hard work, music and sports were constant while raising four children, Jim born in 1959, Barbara 1960, Rick 1962 and John 1964.
After retirement from military service, Ralph worked as a construction accountant, apartment manager, auto parts sales, taco shell plant supervisor. Ralph was never afraid of hard work, doing numerous side jobs, helping neighbors and family without question. If you needed something done, you called Ralph.
Later in life Ralph and Juanita moved from Colorado Springs to Canon City, Colorado. Ralph would drive a school bus for special needs children for the Canon City school district. This turned into his passion. He took care of countless children and their families for better than fifteen years. All the while assisting Juanita with her passion: owner and operator of "Abbey Gift Shop" located at the historic Canon City Abbey. Ralph would give tours of the Abbey to out of town guests, school children and tourists. In his spare time, Ralph volunteered for the Knights of Columbus; was an usher at Canon City Tigers football games; assisted with numerous church and school functions. Ralph loved to read about world history and visit historic sites. Ever the adventure seekers, Ralph and Juanita continued to travel and enjoy their golden years together. His loss will be mourned by many, his laughter, his caring and compassion for others, his high jinks, his many costumes, his boisterous voice, will be missed by numerous friends and a very loving family.
Survived by his wife, his children, his nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, his sisters and his brothers.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Johnny Cruz, Mary Lou Cross, Filomena Hagg, Patricia Westhoff, Alfonzo Jr. Cruz, and Genny Hymer.
The fifth child of twelve siblings. Growing up in St. Joseph, surrounded by family, faith and love, Ralph developed a great sense of compassion and caring for others. He would spread these important attributes to the lives of everyone he touched.
As a youngster, Ralph was a remarkable athlete and pretty good prankster. Playing many sports, his favorite was basketball. At Christian Brothers High School, Ralph was a leader on the hardwood, the captain of his team for two years, leading scorer and an all-conference player. In 1954 Ralph helped lead CBHS to the city championship. A relentless drive and a fierce competitor Ralph never backed down. Ralph's basketball skills earned him a college scholarship. Ralph was a mischievous boy; he was either causing trouble or he was in trouble.
Ralph joined the United States Air Force after graduation. Serving our country for twenty years, Ralph traveled to many locations in world. Learning and sharing different cultures. Ralph served during the Vietnam War and survived a bombing attack at the base he was stationed in Ubon, Thailand. Ralph loved his country. He retired from the Air Force in 1975.
Ralph met the "love of his life" before he was born. Juanita M. Guardado. Ralph's parents are Juanita's Godparents. Childhood sweethearts and known troublemakers, Ralph and Juanita ruled sixth street in St. Joseph. This remarkable couple were married in St. Joseph on June 7, 1958. Together Ralph and Juanita would now reach-out to the world. Loving, discipline, hugs, laughter, church celebrations, hard work, music and sports were constant while raising four children, Jim born in 1959, Barbara 1960, Rick 1962 and John 1964.
After retirement from military service, Ralph worked as a construction accountant, apartment manager, auto parts sales, taco shell plant supervisor. Ralph was never afraid of hard work, doing numerous side jobs, helping neighbors and family without question. If you needed something done, you called Ralph.
Later in life Ralph and Juanita moved from Colorado Springs to Canon City, Colorado. Ralph would drive a school bus for special needs children for the Canon City school district. This turned into his passion. He took care of countless children and their families for better than fifteen years. All the while assisting Juanita with her passion: owner and operator of "Abbey Gift Shop" located at the historic Canon City Abbey. Ralph would give tours of the Abbey to out of town guests, school children and tourists. In his spare time, Ralph volunteered for the Knights of Columbus; was an usher at Canon City Tigers football games; assisted with numerous church and school functions. Ralph loved to read about world history and visit historic sites. Ever the adventure seekers, Ralph and Juanita continued to travel and enjoy their golden years together. His loss will be mourned by many, his laughter, his caring and compassion for others, his high jinks, his many costumes, his boisterous voice, will be missed by numerous friends and a very loving family.
Survived by his wife, his children, his nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, his sisters and his brothers.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Johnny Cruz, Mary Lou Cross, Filomena Hagg, Patricia Westhoff, Alfonzo Jr. Cruz, and Genny Hymer.
Parents: Alfonzo and Isabel Cruz
The fifth child of twelve siblings. Growing up in St. Joseph, surrounded by family, faith and love, Ralph developed a great sense of compassion and caring for others. He would spread these important attributes to the lives of everyone he touched.
As a youngster, Ralph was a remarkable athlete and pretty good prankster. Playing many sports, his favorite was basketball. At Christian Brothers High School, Ralph was a leader on the hardwood, the captain of his team for two years, leading scorer and an all-conference player. In 1954 Ralph helped lead CBHS to the city championship. A relentless drive and a fierce competitor Ralph never backed down. Ralph's basketball skills earned him a college scholarship. Ralph was a mischievous boy; he was either causing trouble or he was in trouble.
Ralph joined the United States Air Force after graduation. Serving our country for twenty years, Ralph traveled to many locations in world. Learning and sharing different cultures. Ralph served during the Vietnam War and survived a bombing attack at the base he was stationed in Ubon, Thailand. Ralph loved his country. He retired from the Air Force in 1975.
Ralph met the "love of his life" before he was born. Juanita M. Guardado. Ralph's parents are Juanita's Godparents. Childhood sweethearts and known troublemakers, Ralph and Juanita ruled sixth street in St. Joseph. This remarkable couple were married in St. Joseph on June 7, 1958. Together Ralph and Juanita would now reach-out to the world. Loving, discipline, hugs, laughter, church celebrations, hard work, music and sports were constant while raising four children, Jim born in 1959, Barbara 1960, Rick 1962 and John 1964.
After retirement from military service, Ralph worked as a construction accountant, apartment manager, auto parts sales, taco shell plant supervisor. Ralph was never afraid of hard work, doing numerous side jobs, helping neighbors and family without question. If you needed something done, you called Ralph.
Later in life Ralph and Juanita moved from Colorado Springs to Canon City, Colorado. Ralph would drive a school bus for special needs children for the Canon City school district. This turned into his passion. He took care of countless children and their families for better than fifteen years. All the while assisting Juanita with her passion: owner and operator of "Abbey Gift Shop" located at the historic Canon City Abbey. Ralph would give tours of the Abbey to out of town guests, school children and tourists. In his spare time, Ralph volunteered for the Knights of Columbus; was an usher at Canon City Tigers football games; assisted with numerous church and school functions. Ralph loved to read about world history and visit historic sites. Ever the adventure seekers, Ralph and Juanita continued to travel and enjoy their golden years together. His loss will be mourned by many, his laughter, his caring and compassion for others, his high jinks, his many costumes, his boisterous voice, will be missed by numerous friends and a very loving family.
Survived by his wife, his children, his nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, his sisters and his brothers.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Johnny Cruz, Mary Lou Cross, Filomena Hagg, Patricia Westhoff, Alfonzo Jr. Cruz, and Genny Hymer.
The fifth child of twelve siblings. Growing up in St. Joseph, surrounded by family, faith and love, Ralph developed a great sense of compassion and caring for others. He would spread these important attributes to the lives of everyone he touched.
As a youngster, Ralph was a remarkable athlete and pretty good prankster. Playing many sports, his favorite was basketball. At Christian Brothers High School, Ralph was a leader on the hardwood, the captain of his team for two years, leading scorer and an all-conference player. In 1954 Ralph helped lead CBHS to the city championship. A relentless drive and a fierce competitor Ralph never backed down. Ralph's basketball skills earned him a college scholarship. Ralph was a mischievous boy; he was either causing trouble or he was in trouble.
Ralph joined the United States Air Force after graduation. Serving our country for twenty years, Ralph traveled to many locations in world. Learning and sharing different cultures. Ralph served during the Vietnam War and survived a bombing attack at the base he was stationed in Ubon, Thailand. Ralph loved his country. He retired from the Air Force in 1975.
Ralph met the "love of his life" before he was born. Juanita M. Guardado. Ralph's parents are Juanita's Godparents. Childhood sweethearts and known troublemakers, Ralph and Juanita ruled sixth street in St. Joseph. This remarkable couple were married in St. Joseph on June 7, 1958. Together Ralph and Juanita would now reach-out to the world. Loving, discipline, hugs, laughter, church celebrations, hard work, music and sports were constant while raising four children, Jim born in 1959, Barbara 1960, Rick 1962 and John 1964.
After retirement from military service, Ralph worked as a construction accountant, apartment manager, auto parts sales, taco shell plant supervisor. Ralph was never afraid of hard work, doing numerous side jobs, helping neighbors and family without question. If you needed something done, you called Ralph.
Later in life Ralph and Juanita moved from Colorado Springs to Canon City, Colorado. Ralph would drive a school bus for special needs children for the Canon City school district. This turned into his passion. He took care of countless children and their families for better than fifteen years. All the while assisting Juanita with her passion: owner and operator of "Abbey Gift Shop" located at the historic Canon City Abbey. Ralph would give tours of the Abbey to out of town guests, school children and tourists. In his spare time, Ralph volunteered for the Knights of Columbus; was an usher at Canon City Tigers football games; assisted with numerous church and school functions. Ralph loved to read about world history and visit historic sites. Ever the adventure seekers, Ralph and Juanita continued to travel and enjoy their golden years together. His loss will be mourned by many, his laughter, his caring and compassion for others, his high jinks, his many costumes, his boisterous voice, will be missed by numerous friends and a very loving family.
Survived by his wife, his children, his nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, his sisters and his brothers.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Johnny Cruz, Mary Lou Cross, Filomena Hagg, Patricia Westhoff, Alfonzo Jr. Cruz, and Genny Hymer.
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MSGT
US Air Force
Vietnam
Gravesite Details
Interred: Dec 20, 2021
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