Ralph J. Johnson

Ralph J. Johnson, 76, a lifelong resident of Ephrata, Washington, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, Washington. He was born on June 4, 1936 in Ephrata, Wash. to Roy and Emma (Schuh) Johnson. Ralph graduated from Ephrata High School in 1954 and went to work on a road construction crew in Spokane, Wash. In 1957 he enrolled in Central Washington University at Ellensburg, Wash. and would go to school during the day and work the swing shift at Priest Rapids Dam. He graduated from CWU in 1960 with a BA in Education. Following graduation he went to work for the Department of Labor and Industries as the District Manager in Ephrata. Later that year he married Marie Romero. The following year they purchased their first home and 17 acres in Grant Orchards. In 1967 their son, Brian was born. A few years later he and Marie divorced and in 1977 Ralph married Barbara Flint who had two children from a previous marriage, Roger Flint and Julie (Flint) Bryan.