Ralph Louis Cherry, born on May 31, 1921, in Guthrie, OK, was the first born
son of Ralph M. and Vera (Covert) Cherry. He was raised in Oklahoma and
married Edna Pearl Herd in 1940. He went to his heavenly home February 9, 2004.
After WW II began he entered into the U. S. Army and was a combat infantry
man. He was wounded while in the Rhineland Campaign in Germany and honorably
discharged in 1946. While serving, he received the WW II Victory Ribbon, Good
Conduct Medal, EAME Theater Ribbon and Bronze Star. Ralph's main goal was to
tell people "be ready to meet Jesus." He was definitely a man of God. And all
of the grandchildren agreed, "Grandpa made really good homemade style French
fries!"
He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna and parents, stepmother, Grace Cherry and brothers, George Cherry and Pete Peterson. He is survived by his
sisters, Margaret Bruce of Wichita, KS, Joanne Fillmore (husband Elden) of
Guthrie, OK, Mary Lou Porter (husband, Eddie) of Bakersfield, CA; brother, Bob Cherry
of Santa Maria, CA; his six children, Merle Grant (husband, Gordan), LInda
Forkade (husband, Chuck), Jim (wife, Kathy), Wayne (wife, Carla) and Leroy all
of Bakersfield and Robert (wife, Laurel) of Fort Collins, CO; ten grandchildren
and their families which include sixteen great grandchildren and numerous
friends and church family. Special thanks to his nurse Mary Lou of Optimal
Hospice. He was greatly loved.
A memorial service will be held today (Thursday), February 12, 2004, 1:00
p.m., at Rexland Acres Assembly of God Church, 328 Bryant Street, Bakersfield,
California.
