Sandy resident, Ralph Sweeney died peacefully at Portland Adventist Medical Center on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at the age of 85.
A private family graveside with military honors will be held at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. A memorial service will be on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul of Damascus Lutheran Church.
Ralph Edward Sweeney was born, the seventh of nine children on October 2, 1926 in Alhambra, California to Louis Sweeney and Vera (Goodell) Sweeney. As a young boy, the family moved to Oregon and made their home in the Portland area. At the age of 17, Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Navy on November 30, 1943 and served in the South Pacific. After his honorable discharge on January 14, 1946, he returned to Portland and sailed in the Merchant Marines.
On June 29, 1947, he was united in marriage to Sally Poulson in Milwaukie. They made their home in the Portland area where Ralph sailed as a Chief Electrician with the Merchant Marines and began their family. In 1955, Ralph went to work for Edmondson Shade and Blind Company in Portland. In August of 1959, Ralph and his wife became the owner and operators of the company and changed the name to Edmondson Drapery. They ran the business until retiring and selling in the late 1990’s. Ralph and Sally remained in the Damascus area until 2003 when they moved to Sandy and made their permanent home.
Ralph was an avid golfer and fisherman. He enjoyed gardening vegetables, fruits and flowers, especially roses. He was a longtime member of the St. Paul of Damascus Lutheran Church, Persimmons Country Club and was one of the first members of Pleasant Valley Golf Course.
Surviving is his wife Sally; his sons Patrick Sweeney of Gresham and Lonn Sweeney of Sandy; his daughters Judy Knehans of Boise, Idaho and Maureen Butterworth of Meridian, Idaho; his sister Verajean Trussell of Othello, Washington; 11 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to The American Diabetes Association ~ P.O. Box 11454 Alexandria, Virginia 22312 or St. Paul of Damascus Lutheran Church for a new Church sign.