Ralph Edward Wadley

Ralph Edward Wadley
4/23/20-2/10/11

Ralph Edward Wadley passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday Feb. 10, 2011. He was the youngest of five children, born on April 23, 1920 in Fowler, CO to Edith and Robert Wadley. He graduated from East High School in Denver, CO. After graduation he enlisted into the military and was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Oahu on Dec. 7, 1941 with his brother, Richard, during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, while fighting at the Battle of Guadalcanal, he contracted malaria and was shipped back to the States. He was given an honorable discharge on Aug. 6, 1943. He married the love of his life, Barbara Jayne Kentner on Dec. 26, 1943. Upon returning home he started working for Mountain Bell as a janitor and quickly moved up the corporate ladder. After living throughout the Western States, the family settled in Salt Lake City in 1967. Ralph retired from Mountain Bell in 1979 as the General Manager for Customer Services. While living in both Ogden and Salt Lake, Ralph took on many positions and projects in the community. He served as president of the Ogden Weber Club twice, served on the advisory board of trustees for Ogden First Federal Bank and served as vice-president of the Ogden Chamber of Commerce. Since 1996 he was president of Utah Chapter No. One of the Pearl Harbor Survivors. As a member of the First Methodist Church in Ogden, he organized and started the family counseling services through the church. After moving to Salt Lake he was director of the Salt Lake County Traffic School for second and third offenders for over ten years. Ralph was a 60 year member of the Twin Peaks No. 32 Masonic Lodge in Midvale. On Nov. 11, 2009 he was honored at the University of Utah Veterans Day Commemoration. He was loved and respected by all who knew him.

Preceded in death by his loving wife, Barbara; parents; brothers and sisters; one granddaughter; many friends. Survived by his two children, daughter Carol Colledge and son James (Laurel) Wadley; grandchildren, Sherri Van Egeren, Janine (Tom) Durm, Mike (Lurena) Colledge, Jeremy (Nina) Robinson and Shawn Wadley; great-grandchildren, Heather, Jenifer, Gavin, Brayden, Baylee, Cody and Olivia; great-great-grandchildren, Cara and Erin; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be Friday February 18, 2011 at 2pm at the Mountain View Memorial Chapel (3115 E. Bengal Blvd.). There will be a gathering to celebrate his life one hour prior to services Friday as well as Thursday night from 6-8pm at the mortuary. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital Transportation Fund or the Utah State Veterans Nursing Home. Special thanks to all the wonderful caregivers who helped us take care of him so he could stay home where he wanted to be, especially his granddaughter, Sherri.