RALPH TRENTON HEINLEN

Memorial services for Ralph Trenton Heinlen, 87, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Palouse Federated Church with Pastor Corey Laughary officiating with a luncheon to follow.  The United States Army Honor Guard and the Potlatch V.F.W. Post #10300 will participate in the service.  Mr. Heinlen passed away on February 26, 2019 at the Whitman Hospital in Colfax.

Ralph was born on February 23, 1932 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio to LeRoy & Ermina (Eckert) Heinlen.  He spent his early childhood growing up out in the country on the family farm where his father raised corn, wheat and soybeans.  When Ralph was in the 5th grade, the family moved into town and he graduated from Bucyrus High School with the class of 1950. 

After high school, Ralph went on to attend trade school for two years, focusing his education on electronics repair. In 1952, Ralph was drafted to serve in the United States Army during the Korean War.  He was stationed in New Mexico with the Army Signal Corps and was also a radar repairman.  While attending trade school, Ralph met Carol Beattie and they married on June 13, 1954 in Euclid, Ohio while he was home on leave. 

After his discharge from the service, Ralph and Carol made their home in Streetsboro, Ohio where he owned and operated an electronics and TV repair store.  In 1977, they moved to Lancaster, California and in 1990 moved to Palmdale, CA. and he began another business doing custom installations of electronics including intercoms, central vacuums and the like.  After retiring in 2000, Ralph and Carol moved to Palouse to be closer to family and became active members of the Palouse Federated Church.  They recently moved to the Hill Ray Plaza in Colfax.

Ralph enjoyed working with his hands and will be fondly remembered for his woodworking skills.  He made many unique pieces that he gave as gifts and sold on consignment at various stores around the Palouse.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Carol, of Colfax; son Mark Lee (Kelly) Heinlen of Colfax; daughters Lisa Ann Humphreys of Moscow and Dianne Fern Heinlen of Bellingham; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; his brother Calvin Heinlen of Alabama as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and another sibling who died before birth.’

Memorial contributions in Ralph’s honor are suggested to the Palouse Federated Church, 635 N Bridge St, Palouse, WA 99161.  Kramer Funeral Home of Palouse has been entrusted with caring for Ralph’s family.  You are invited to leave condolences and order flowers for the family at www.kramercares.com

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