Ralph Luman Schminkey was born on Dec. 31, 1920 in Columbia Heights, Minn., to Luman and Blanche Schminkey. On Dec. 4, 2007, Ralph passed away peacefully in Gig Harbor to reunite with his wife Orva Jean in their Heavenly Home. He was 86 years old.

Ralph graduated from Langley High School in 1939 and worked most of his life as a locomotive engineer for the Milwaukee Railroad out of Tacoma.

On July 4, 1940, Ralph and Orva Jean Newell were married in Orting and were together for 66 years. They have seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Ralph always looked forward to getting together with the whole family and enjoyed his trips back to the island with its memories.

Dad was a strong, resilient person, with a never-give-up attitude and took wonderful care of Mom despite his own physical limitations. He is deeply loved and missed.

Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Orva Jean, on March 5, 2007; son Dennis Ralph on Jan. 7, 1945; and brother-in-law

Howard E. Newell on Jan. 22, 2007.

Ralph is survived by his son Gary (Theresa) Schminkey of Puyallup; daughters Barbara (Ken) Casey and Betty (Mike) Brooks of Tacoma; brother-in-law, Russell (MiYung) Newell of Las Vegas, Nev. and his son Jerry (Greta) Newell of New York; sister-in-law Bonnie Newell of Langley and her daughters, Audrey (Jim) Spencer of Langley and Laurie Newell of Freeland; several nieces and nephews and many good friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 in the Valley Chapel at Mountain View Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, (253-584-0252).