Ralph Hinkley

Ralph Edward Hinkley, passed away on October 10, 2019 at the age of 88 at Harborview Hospital in Seattle. Ralph lived a long beautiful life surrounded by people that loved him for his patience, generosity, playful attitude and most of all his uncanny ability to bring a sense of ease and peace to everyone around him. Ralph was born, at home, on October 19, 1930 to Nelson and Hilda Hinkley in Yakima, Washington. Ralph attended McKinley Elementary, Franklin Junior High School and graduated from Yakima High School in 1949. He worked for Laurants Grocery Store during his high school years. In December of 1950, he joined the Navy where he served for four years in San Diego and Guam during the Korean Conflict. After being honorably discharged, in August of 1954, he attended the University of Washington before returning to Yakima to work for the Carnation Company. On August 1, 1960, Ralph became a successful State Farm Agent, retiring on July 31, 1999. Ralph took great pride in caring for all of his clients as though they were his own family. He was a man of great integrity, working hard when necessary but also one could always count on a good laugh when you walked through the doors of his office. He was not just a “Good Neighbor” he was the very best neighbor. Ralph first set his eyes on the love of his life, Kathryn Dahlin, at the XXX Drive In during the summer of 1955. That night he insisted on being a perfect gentleman by following her back to her home, in Parker, making sure she made it safely. The rest of their love story was written in the stars. They married on August 24, 1956 at First Presbyterian Church in Yakima, Washington and had three wonderful children, Kevin, Lori, and Anna. Together, Ralph and Kathryn loved to tend to their impeccable garden throughout the seasons. They also found joy in exploring the world with their friends and family, traveling to five of the seven continents! One of his favorite trips was when he and Kathryn traveled to Thailand with his sister- and brother-in-law, Phyllis and Stanley Strother. They made forever memories while indulging in an unforgettable private tour throughout the country. Although they traveled to many far away destinations, one of his very favorite places was close to home, the Oregon Coast. This is the place where he loved to take his grandchildren to play in the sand, fly kites, play cards and without a doubt go for a big ice cream cone. It was a family tradition to travel to the Oregon Coast over the years where memories can be heard, seen and felt around every corner. Ralph had a great love for all of his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ralph was a down to earth and active member of his hometown community. He was a member of the Yakima Exchange Club for 30 years and served as past president, president of the Davis High School Booster Club, served on the Hearing and Speech Board for many years, and was a member of the Yakima Elks Golf and Country Club where he loved meeting up and golfing with his “Golf Buddies.” Ralph was named the “Greatest American Hero” by the local newspaper in 1981. Anyone that was lucky enough to have known him understood that this title could not be more fitting. Ralph held friendships in the highest regard throughout his life. He was the kind of friend that would give you the shirt off his back without you even asking. He remained close to lifelong friends, enjoying coffee with his “Golf Buddies,” breakfasts with their travel group, and dinners once a month with his classmates of 1949. He enjoyed laughing and sharing stories about life’s adventures with these incredible friends. The holiday seasons were always favorites of Ralph’s. He was the first one to sit down with all of the kids to frost Christmas cookies or dip the Easter eggs in fun colors. Ralph also enjoyed all sports, being an avid Seattle Seahawk fan! He attended many local high school sporting events throughout the years. He was even a coach for Grid Kids and Little League teams in the community just because he truly enjoyed being around the kids. His true love was cheering on all of his children and grandchildren from the stands as they participated in many sports themselves. He was our “Number One Fan.” Ralph is survived by his loving wife Kathryn of 63 years, his son Kevin (Deb) Hinkley of Victor, Idaho, daughter Lori (Darryl) Hart of Henderson, Nevada, and daughter Anna (Mark) Kramer of Anthem, Arizona; his six grandchildren, Sara (Stephen) Schleh, Kayla Hinkley, Keenan Hart, Alexa Hart, Monique Kramer, and Kaleb (Heather) Kramer, two great-grandchildren, Ozwald and Elias Schleh, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister Dorothy Baxter and brother Curly (Jane) Hinkley as well as his brother-in-law Ronald (Myrtle) Dahlin. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents Nelson and Hilda, brothers Joe, Ron, and Walter, and sisters Ruby Perkins, Pearl James, and Jean Gough, and brother- and sister-in-law, Stanley and Phyllis Strother. Our family will be forever grateful to Dr. Carl Olden, his primary care physician of Yakima, along with the extraordinary care and compassion shown by the doctors and nurses of Harborview Hospital. Ralph was a kind and good man who pushed us all to be the best version of ourselves; he brought laughter to our lives and most importantly would see the good in every person he met, which is what we loved most about him. You will be missed dearly “Ralphie” but your presence and the lessons you taught us will live on forever. Our family will have a Celebration of Life for Ralph, at the Yakima Elks and Country Club on Sunday, November 24 at 2:00. In honor of Ralph’s love for “Sunday Football” feel free to wear your favorite Seahawk attire. In lieu of flowers, it was Ralph’s request that donations be made to North Star Lodge and Cottage in the Meadow in care of Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory, 2600 Business Lane, Yakima, WA 98901. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ralph Hinkley, please visit our flower store.