Ralph Thorne, age 81, a resident of the Tri-Cities area since 1949, died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, at the Tri-Cities retirement Inn at Pasco. Ralph now rests in peace in the care of our Heavenly Father who is rich in grace and mercy. Ralph was born August 4, 1930, in Flint, Michigan. He came to Walla Walla, WA, with his family in 1945. In 1949, he met and married the one & only love of his life, Vivian M. Wright. The newlyweds moved to the Tri-Cities that same year. They started a family in Kennewick and raised their family of 4 children in Pasco, Washington. Ralph always had a love for baseball. That passion included playing semi-pro ball as a young man. In the 60s, Ralph devoted himself to the Pasco youth baseball programs in Pony-Colt leagues. Alongside his wife, Ralph spent countless hours developing the ball fields now known as Walters Field in Pasco. Through thick & thin, Ralph always supported his beloved Mariners. He found great joy in his younger years playing golf all around the Northwest with his wife & their close friends. In 1970, Ralph & Vivian started their own business, Kennewick Transfer & Storage. Later, Ralph's sons would help develop the growing business. Three generations later it is operated by his grandson Lucas Thorne & family. Ralph and Vivian retired in 1994 & remained in Kennewick. His loving wife of 49 years passed away in 1998. Ralph lived in Kennewick until the summer of 2011 when he became a resident of Tri-City Retirement Inn. Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian and infant daughter MaryAnn, brothers Oscar & Larry, and sister Roberta Schoenrock. He is survived by daughter Nancy Gilbert (Mike) of Spokane Valley; son Dennis (Marele) of Logan, Utah; son Scott (Joan) of Pasco, WA; brother Bill of Walla Walla, WA; sister Lucille Dickerson of Bellville, MI; sister Mary Allesio of Walla Walla, WA; 10 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
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