Ralph Emerson Auchard, Jr.

On October 7, 2017 Ralph Emerson Auchard, Jr. passed peacefully into the loving arms of our Lord.  He was surrounded by family and will be greatly missed.  Preceding him was his wife of over 50 years Patricia, his second wife Rosemary, his parents Ralph Emerson Auchard, Sr. and his mother Dorothy Mae Lake Foster and his great-grandson Dominic Matthew Johnson.

Ralph was born in Santa Cruz, CA and grew up in Three Rivers, Ivanhoe, and Visalia in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

Ralph was born May 22, 1926.  He was a WWII veteran having lied about his age to join the Army when he was only 16 years old.  He served in General George S. Patton's 3rd Army in Europe as an engineer.  After the war in Europe was over he was transferred to Japan and was discharged in 1946.

He took advantage of the G.I. Bill and became a Diesel Mechanic.  He settled in Fresno, CA and worked as a Diesel Mechanic/Shop Foreman until he retired in 1988.  Shortly after, he and Patricia relocated to Coos Bay, OR.  He stayed in Oregon until 2013 when he moved back to California to help care for his daughter-in-law Cheryl, who was undergoing cancer treatments.

Ralph had to go to work early in his life to help support his family.  He dropped out of high school after 10th grade.  This left him with an incredible thirst for learning.  It was not unusual to see him read 3-4 books a week.  He was gifted with tremendous wisdom and was a walking example of a work ethic.  He missed one day of work his entire life when Patricia stood at the doorway of the house in Fresno and refused to let him go to work with a 103 degree fever.

Ralph is survived by his sisters Florence and Rose; his two sons, Paul and Roger, Paul's wife Marsha, four grandchildren, Brian, Matthew, Sara, and Danielle; four great-grandchildren, Malachi, Darwin, Red, and Faith.  He is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be 10 a.m., Friday, October 13, 2017 at Pleasant View Cemetery, Shawnee, Kansas.