Ralph George Boyden

Ralph George Boyden, born July, 17, 1923, in New York City, died of natural causes Dec. 12, 2023, at the Columbia Basin Hospital at the age of 96.

His first four years were spent on his grandparents' farm in Illinois. It was a wonderful place to be. 

He rejoined his mother Francis Boyden and new stepfather Lester in St. Louis, Mo., for the remainder of his childhood. He was soon to become the oldest brother of three sisters Charlotte, Ellen Jean and Leslie. He did most of the child care, preparing him for a future of raising girls. 

He quit school in the eighth grade to work at the spaghetti factory in the Italian part of St. Louis. Outsiders were not tolerated. He was accepted because of his looks – black curly hair and bright blue eyes. (Northern Italian, they decided)

He enlisted in the Navy at 17 and served in Guam at the end of World War II. He later transferred to the Army to serve in Occupied Germany. He re-enlisted again to the Army Air Corp which became the present-day Air Force. The first assignment with the Air Force was Larson AFB in Moses Lake. He felt like he was being punished coming to such a godforsaken area. 

On Dec. 24, 1952, there was a plane leaving Larson that crashed and killed 87 airmen on their way home for Christmas. It was called Operation Sleighride. He worked the scene, witnessing friends among the casualties. He never forgot and was delighted to learn that a powerful memorial wall was constructed at the Moses Lake airport. He was honored there every year on Memorial Day, thanks to his friend Larry Godden. 

While still stationed at Larson, he met his beautiful soon-to-be wife, Dixie Capps, in Wenatchee. Their courtship was swift. They married six weeks later because of the Korean War Conflict. 

Their daughter LeeAnne was born 10 months later. Ralph and Dixie were a great team. They loved and supported each other through his 20 years in the military and the many years beyond. They were so fortunate to have 61 years together. 

Upon his retirement from the Air Force, he decided to give her a house of her own, with flowers and a white picket fence. And that is how we came to be in Ephrata.

Civilian life was tough; a series of disappointing jobs led him to Central Washington University where he finished his degree. 

His work life improved with a series of Washington state jobs, culminating in his retirement as a claims investigator with the Department of Labor & Industries. 

They had a wonderful retirement made even more exciting by the birth of twin girls – the first and only grandchildren. This gave them new purpose. Ralph lived long enough to see five great-grandchildren.

He was an avid fisherman most of his adult life. He enjoyed all of the local lakes. He was a powerful man and loved to row the boat for hours.

After Dixie passed in 2015, he moved to Garden Oasis Assisted Living. He worked to organize, improve and beautify his new home and was so appreciative of the maintenance staff and the women of the hospital auxiliary. 

He cared deeply for the nursing staff and the residents. He considered them all friends and he did anything in his power to brighten their days.

He was an extraordinary gardener and growing tomatoes was his favorite pastime. 

His last years were spent container growing which led to a relentless battle every summer with blossom end rot. His comment this last year was "I sure hope there is no blossom end rot in Heaven."

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frances and Lester Boyden, sisters Charlotte and Ellen Jean, in-laws Mildred and Ed Capps, two infant children and wife Dixie. 

He is survived by daughter LeeAnne (Bob) Austin, twin granddaughters Emily (Les) Tuck and Amanda (Cornelio) Farias and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his favorite "little sister," Leslie Jackson of Garland, Texas.

The family would like to express their thanks to everyone at the Columbia Basin Hospital and Family Medicine, and to all at the Garden Oasis. We are so grateful for your extra care and kindness. 

Services will be held at a later date in Wenatchee. 

    Ralph George Boyden, born July, 17, 1923, in New York City, died of natural causes Dec. 12, 2023, at the Columbia Basin Hospital at the age of 96.