Ralph Benjamin Bashor, son of Amos A. Bashor and Nora Mae (Griffith) Bashor, was born July 22, 1924 at home in Arroll, Missouri and passed away at St. Johns Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, Sunday, June 14, 2009 making his age 84 years 10 months 23 days.
Ralph was united in marriage to Wilma Ramahjean Warburton, August 21, 1948. To their union two children were born, a son, Dallaslee Eugene Bashor of Summersville, MO and daughter, Nora Jean Bashor (Marks) of Augusta, GA.
Ralph attended Johns District 99 School of Texas County, Summersville, MO 1st through 8th grade. He earned his high school diploma through the United States Army Air Corps. Ralph was inducted into the Army Air Forces April 19, 1943 and served in World War II from April 26, 1943 through Oct 23, 1945. Ralph held the rank of Tech/Sgt and was the top gunner and chief engineer on a B-24 Liberator Bomber and flew 45 missions in Italy; there he earned five Bronze Battle Stars, for campaigns in North Appenniens, Po Valley, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Air Combat Balkans. Ralph also earned the following medals, Air Crew Member Wings, Aerial Gunner Wings, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Medal, Air Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Carbine Rifle and expert Pistol Medals.
With honorable discharge Ralph returned home and took up farming with his brother Charley. After his elopement with his bride in Hardy, Arkansas he began a full time milk route in the area. For a short while he was employed at Red Field Iowa Brick Yard. Soon after Ralph began working in the timber industry between Colorado, Utah, and Missouri. Ralph and Jean opened the R & J Mobile Gas Station/General Store in Arroll in 1966. Ralph also drove a Summersville school bus for many years and ran a backhoe and dump truck business. For several years, he worked grading the roads for his local township then retiring and returned to farming full time.
Ralph attended Arroll Church in his younger years and was saved. He was faithful to pray with his wife daily.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Amos A. and Nora Mae; a half brother Fred Bashor; four brothers, Amos, Harvey, Charley and Mark Bashor; three sisters, Carrie Baird, Ann Myers, and Myrtle Freeman; three nephews, Clifford Leroy Bashor, Douglass Holloway, Fred Birch; and one niece Beverly Millender. Ralph is survived by his wife Jean of the home, son Dallaslee of Summersville, MO; daughter Nora Jean and her husband Chris Marks of Augusta, GA, two grandsons, Ralph Benjamin Bashor and wife Shawna, and Adam Lee Bashor; one granddaughter Cari Alaine Marks; two great-grandchildren, Collin Andrew Bashor and Patricia Jade Bashor; three nephews, Lawrence Birch of California, Archie Fred Bashor of Summersville and Ricky Bashor of Seoul, Korea; two nieces, Shirley Ross and Robin Eagle both of Springfield, MO.
Ralph will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His caring personality, warm heart and selflessness generosity created countless memories for all those who knew and loved him.
Funeral services were held Friday, June 19, 2009 at 2 p.m. at Midvale Church with Rev. Emmett Bradford and Rev. Pat Cronk officiating. Interment was in Arroll Cemetery with full military honors, under the care of Bradford Funeral Home.
No comments:
Post a Comment