Ralph Douglas Crouch's Obituary
Retired Marine MSgt Ralph Douglas Crouch passed away on June 7, 2022, a month before his 87th birthday. He was preceded in death by Cam, his loving wife of 66 years, in August 2021. She called him Ralph D. and it stuck.
He unexpectedly survived 24 years after his quadruple bypass in 1998, 14 years longer than most patients – having promised to take care of his wife and tend to her many health issues during her lifetime. Being tough was in his DNA, as he was born a ‘blue baby’ at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota on July 10, 1935.
As a teenager, the local sheriff suggested that he and his rebel rouser brother join the military to bring discipline, structure, and responsibility into their lives; his brother enlisted in the Navy and Ralph in the Marine Corps at age 17. For 30 years, he dedicated himself to being the best in all roles he served: Drill Instructor (DI), Combat Engineering Division and Infantry Division during two tours of Vietnam, Burial Division for more than 100 fallen soldiers, Instructor for the Prototype Marine Corp JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Program, and Logistical Chief, his last assignment for the Marine Corps Depot of Supply in San Francisco, District Headquarters.
He was an extremely proud Marine, advocate of American’s and veteran’s rights and responsibilities, and a loving, devoted, supportive husband, father, and grandfather. To say that he bled the right, white, and blue is an understatement. He genuinely loved being a Marine and was extremely prideful of his accomplishments.
At 20, Ralph was proudly promoted to Sargent. The Marine Corps continued to reward his hard work, determination, perseverance, and dedication with promotions, medals, commendations, and citations, enabling him to achieve his goal — the distinction of Master Sargent (MSgt), the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer. Top Brass often called on him to assist with important matters because of his initiative, creative ideas, and can-do attitude. Although he admitted that oftentimes, his feisty spirit got him into trouble.
Ralph made a pact with Cam, that he would work hard and achieve as a Marine while she managed their finances and helped move the family to bases in California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Truly a great partnership that worked for them and their family of four. For extra money, Ralph bathed and groomed dogs at their home, and continued pampering their family’s three dogs over the years.
His wife always called him ‘lucky’ since she felt he got plum locations and assignments. When stationed in California, the family loved taking their little, used camper to a campground ‘over the river and through the woods’ that offered a pool and access to the beach. An east coast base with a racetrack enabled the family to enjoy races while sitting on hay bales on the top of the building.
While living on Treasure Island, the kids attended school in renovated barracks on the base until it closed, and then were bused into downtown San Francisco. Ralph and Cam decided to provide a calmer life for their family, so they moved to Fayetteville, AR for a brief time, following his retirement from the Marine Corps.
Ralph tried a variety of jobs: plumber’s apprentice, pourer of novelty items such as vomit and dog poop, and production worker on the swing shift for Campbell Soup Company. During this time, he and Cam moved to a 6.5-acre farm in the country, and he renovated their 50-year-old home when he was not working. They enjoyed raising chickens, cows, and geese, having a horse, growing an extremely large garden, and canning everything possible.
Ralph noted that managers interviewing him felt he would want their job in a year, so they decided not to hire him. This led to him applying at the Veterans Administration Hospital, where he worked as a Federal Employee for 24 years serving America’s Veterans. He believed in ‘walking the walk’ so he started as a Laundry Machine Operator, and in less than a year, moved to the Kitchen as a pot washer and salad maker.
Ultimately, Ralph became Chief of Food Production and Services, where he spent much of his career at the VA, near his wife who worked in the Dietetics Department. He enjoyed enhancing and refreshing long-time recipes, cookware, and appliances for the cooks; improving the look, taste, and quality of the food served to veterans; and hosting events for veterans, families, and dignitaries. Ralph created a display in the hospital dining room, which highlighted the uniforms and medals/ranks of the different military branches. Visiting family members informed him that they appreciated the wall and learned so much.
At the VA, Ralph had a reputation as a tough persona with a great sense of humor and storytelling capabilities, and often whistled when walking around his workplace. He decided his management work ‘uniform’ would be a white shirt and black pants with name badge. He usually had a toothpick in his front pocket, a stick of gum in his mouth, and a hanky in his back pocket. He was grateful to have made many lifelong friends from working at the VA.
Ralph was always up for a challenge, responding to a call from the Hospital Director in the early morning when a portion of the hospital flooded. Besides assisting with clean up, he ensured that employees helping were fed breakfast and properly thanked, and that the kitchen staff still created regular meals for veteran patients.
He strived to help improve his employee’s work-life balance and professional skill set — and promote from within whenever possible — especially since most worked part time. He felt that many employees had the potential to flourish in positions throughout the hospital that provided full-time careers with benefits.
Like his wife, Ralph was not the best picture taker – cutting off the top of people’s heads – but nevertheless, did his best to capture their families’ and their job activities and adventures. Ralph instead served as the family videographer for holiday events, long before it was called a profession. That was the days of tripods and heavy video cameras. It was obvious he loved recording the events; the family continues to watch the videos and reminisce about the fun get-togethers. He was ‘old school,’ taking pride in not learning how to use a computer, and instead using the phone book to locate people and businesses.
Ralph tried his hand at canoeing with his daughter in Guerneville, California where the owner watched from above laughing heartedly as they went around in circles. They learned that they were doing the same thing, rather than one controlling the power and speed of the canoe, and the other the direction. After fixing the issue, they spent a few hours exploring the river while their German Shepherd enjoyed crossing it. Not surprisingly, his animal-loving wife found a stray kitten and implored him to take it home, which of course he did.
Ralph enjoyed teaching his children about car maintenance and tire changing, and provided tips/tricks for driving, and being a responsible driver. He was an advocate of helping his children and grandchildren whenever needed and offering advice when asked. He advised his daughter to marry someone who was kind, caring, loving, and respectful (and had clean fingernails), something he tried to instill in recruits when he was a DI. He felt she listened well, as he recently called her husband ‘a gift.’
He and Cam enjoyed being involved with their grandchildren, attending activities, events, and recitals. His granddaughters reaped the benefits of staying for a few weeks in the summers. Cooking, pottery and darkroom classes, miniature golf, eating out, visiting fun places, and doing exciting things were on the menu – with lots of laughs sprinkled in during their stay.
Ralph had quite the sweet tooth. As a small child with a newspaper route, he took some of his earnings to buy candy. In California, Ralph and Cam lived across the street from a See’s Candies, the perfect place to indulge in quality chocolate. On their farm in the summer, his wife grew strawberries and made wonderful pies. She learned to make two since he and his daughter devoured the first one while watching John Wayne movies on their little black-and-white TV in the farmhouse kitchen. She made them agree to let the second one stay in the fridge for a couple of days; often they could not restrain themselves.
His daughter made fresh strawberry shakes for him while home in the summer. As Ralph got older, he enjoyed shakes from Braum’s since their ice cream included fresh strawberries and they added a scoop of pureed strawberries with juice. He enjoyed handing out candy during Halloween and seeing the excited expression on children’s faces when he filled up their bags.
Ralph’s pride and joy was his 1927 Studebaker President, which his dad sold and got him a less than desirable car. Years later, he acquired a 1965, four-door Maroon Studebaker Cruiser with 263 Chevy V8 engine, which became their family car. His daughter learned to drive it and drove it during high school and college until it wore out. He then purchased a couple Studebaker Hawks. When all quit working, he contacted the Studebaker Drivers Club of Oklahoma to donate the cars, knowing they would restore them to working condition and bring them back to their original glory.
Over the years, Ralph purchased Franklin Mint mini versions of cars on his bucket list and proudly displayed them in the bar area of their den where he and Cam loved to entertain friends. People often saw Ralph and Cam walking with their poodle Annie B. Good around Gulley Park and the Fairview Memorial Gardens, both of which are beautiful and serene. It seems only fitting that they are both laid to rest at the Garden of Peace at the Memorial Gardens.
When Ralph was not watching the Road Runner cartoon, he was collecting assorted sizes and shapes of Wylie Coyote — proudly displaying them on shelves behind his bar area. He and Cam bowled on a league for several years. He was notorious for the twist on his wrist before releasing the ball, often resulting in strikes.
Ralph spent 66 years with his wife laughing, loving life, partying, doing swing, jitterbug, and square dancing, enjoying wonderful food and cocktails, and traveling to a variety of events, activities, and places. They supported fundraising events for Gulley Park, attended their Summer Concert series and shows at the Walton Arts Center, and became a major sponsor of the Lady Razorbacks long before they became popular. For years, they have donated to the local thrift store since sales helped fund scholarships for nurses, and supported the military with donations to the American Legion, DFW, and Wounded Warriors.
When Cam wanted to work part-time when the kids were in school, Ralph encouraged her to talk with the owner of the local McDonald’s. She became the first woman in Southern California to work at the restaurant.
Ralph and Cam helped his daughter’s high school class build a prom float on a golf cart (instead of a wagon) in their barn. The kids had fun while enjoying homemade spaghetti and other dinners during the week they decorated the float. Even though the float was disqualified, everyone has fond memories about the fun time they had that year.
After several years of searching, Ralph and Cam found their newly built home in a pocket neighborhood of Fayetteville with an extra lot next to a creek, only 5-10 minutes from everything. Ralph enjoyed working with Gordon Wilkins, the home builder, who helped him add a large den with game area and bar onto their home, something Cam always wanted, plus a wider driveway, and longer steps off the back of the house. During their 35 years living there, they planted numerous trees and perennial gardens, which became the pride of their neighborhood. They have enjoyed getting to know their neighbors, becoming friends with several of them – and am grateful for their friendship, help, and support. They include Jerry, Linda, Paula, Adnan, Dave, Ron, Mike, and John.
Ralph enjoyed spending time in his workshop building, fixing, and watching old movies on his little black-and-white TV. He was truly a ‘jack of all trades,’ having also repaired their cars, plumbing, electrical, and appliances over the years. His wife agreed, creating a plaque announcing him as the “World’s Greatest Jack of All Trades" and made him a Charter Member of the Handyman Club of America. One year, he built a six-foot star wood frame with Christmas lights. For years, he climbed up onto the roof of their house to display it until it became too dangerous.
He loved his 2000 Hyundai ES300, only one of 200 built with a Mercedes partnership. Late last year, Ralph decided it was time to stop driving, and sold it to the Hyundai Sales Manager for a family member.
Ralph’s family used to kid him about wearing his signature white belt and shoes after Labor Day. He informed them he would wear what he wanted, including his hot pink and lime green pants and colorful shirts including the floral and Hawaiian ones given to him by his daughter. He loved color such that he had each room of their home painted a distinct color and the exterior a nice bright goldish yellow.
For several years, Ralph and Cam volunteered at the Sequoyah United Methodist Church, mostly because of Sara Pair, the minister, and congregation members. Ralph oversaw the kitchen and collaborated with other members to create meals for Soup Wednesday and other events. He called himself head cook and bottle washer. He helped to improve the kitchen drain problem and purchase a new dishwasher.
Ralph will greatly be missed by his family: Michael Crouch, son; Marilyn Pospisil, daughter, husband Stephen, and granddaughter Paige; Jessica Gray, granddaughter, husband Kenny, and children Zane, Marshall, Trent, and Annabelle; and sister Susan Broskoff.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to local military organizations. Feel free to send a note to his family, c/o Marilyn Pospisil, 152 Basin Springs Road, Sadler, TX 76264.
Family will welcome visitors on Saturday, July 23, 2022, from 9:30-10 a.m. at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home, 4520 N. Crossover Road, Fayetteville, and then at 10 a.m., present a Celebration of Life and Tribute Slideshow. Afterward, the Committal Service and Military Funeral will be at the Garden of Peace overlooking the duck/geese pond at the Fairview Memorial Gardens. Sara Pair, Minister at Sequoyah United Methodist Church, will read a scripture and say a prayer.
You can place an online tribute at www.bernafuneralhomes.com
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