Ralph P. Kooy

Ralph P. Kooy, age 84, of Quincy, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on January 19. Ralph was born February 1, 1920 in Monarch, Alberta, Canada, the son of Pete and Jennie (Oldegbers) Kooy. He attended school in Fort Kipp, Alberta; in November, 1941 he joined the Canadian Army. He served with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, working with the tanks. He served in England, Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany until the war ended in 1945. After he was discharged from the military, he went back to farming with his father in Nobleford, Alberta, and spent his winters as a welder in Vancouver, B.C.

In August of 1949 he married Gertrude Kornelis who was from Sumas, Wash. They lived in Nobleford for 13 years, where he farmed and manufactured his own line of V-blade cultivators.

In 1961, Ralph and Gert moved with their family to Quincy, Wash. where he farmed for 12 years. Kooy's Irrigation was established by Ralph in 1973; it grew into a family business which served the Columbia Basin and provided employment for his children and grandchildren. Ralph was self-employed at the business until his cancer kept him at home.

Ralph was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Ephrata.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Gert of 55 years; his children Elliot and Debby Kooy of George, Wes and Karen Kooy of Quincy, Arlene and Barry Keller of Sanford, Fla., Cal and Cathy Kooy of Ephrata, Keith and Sherri Kooy and Clint and Lorraine Kooy both of Quincy, fifteen grandchildren: Raeben, Tylar, Lauren, Kelsey, Kelly, Andrew, Emily, Jordan, Camille, Kyle, Michael, Justin, Crystal, Caleb and Brett; sisters Johanna Konynenbelt, and Alice and Henry Postman, both of Nobleford; Bertha and Rev. John Hofman of Grand Rapids, Mich; brother Albert and Alice Kooy; and sister-in-law Shirley Kooy, both of Lethbridge, Alberta. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Peter, daughter Vivian and brother-in-law Joe Konynenbelt.

The family requests no flowers and asks consideration instead for memorials to be made in Ralph's name to Camp Bighorn Family Retreat Center, 321 Hwy 135 S; Plains, Mt. 59859.

Visitation will be at 2 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28. at Scharbach's Columbia Funeral Chapel in Quincy. Graveside services will be at the Quincy Valley Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29; Memorial service will follow at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29 at Bethlehem Chapel, 612 3rd Ave. SE in Ephrata. The public is welcome at both services. Arrangements made through Scharbach's Columbia Funeral Chapel in Quincy.