Ralph Herbert Osgood
Of Elma, Washington left this realm peacefully February 15th, 2020 at the age of 84 to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus.
He was preceded in death by an infant son Anthony Eric Osgood and his Parents Ivory and Ena.
Ralph is survived by his six children Rhonda Jean Osgood of Maine; Jeffrey Allen Osgood of Elma, Washington; Carmen Lynn Pitts of Elma, Washington; Stephen Ivory Osgood of Elma, Washington; Andrea Beth Hart of Florida and Jennifer Ann Osgood of Hoquiam, Washington.
He also leaves eleven grandchildren Erica Saracina, Nicole Soeng, Jessica Simasko, Carter Osgood, Paisley Semmen, Sarah Semmen, Nathaniel Pitts, Gloria Hile, Emma Pitts, Quinn Osgood, Blake Osgood
Seven great-grandchildren Elijah Soeng, Kaiden Mead, Jaxon Wickstrom, Caleb Soeng, Aida Saracina, Willow Simasko and Alexandria McAllister.
A step brother William Mitchell of Glenburn, Maine and his ex-wife Gloria Stevens of Elma, Washington; whom remained a loyal friend for all his life who cared for him despite their differences.
Ralph was born March 22nd, 1935 to Ivory Merle Osgood and Ena Harriet (Jeffrey) Osgood. He grew up on a farm with his Gramp’ Lifeford as his role model and father figure. There he found a love for animals, particularly horses, chickens, and his canine companions. He was a sensitive soul with a kind heart that would help anyone in need.
He graduated from Foxcroft academy in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine in 1953. He married Gloria Lorraine Stevens on May 5th, 1959, they had seven children together between the years 1960 and 1970. His children remember him as an honest, loyal, fair, and loving father who was always a part of their lives.
During his lifetime He lived and worked in Maine, Niagara Falls, New York, Montana, Alaska, Nevada, Washington, and Minnesota. The Most notable jobs that he was proud to be a part of were the Niagara Power Project, which at the time was the largest hydroelectric project in the Western World. Construction on the Yellowtail dam in central Montana, which would later be designated as the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
He spent his time with family and close friends and worshipping god. He loved Jesus and witnessing to his fellow man.
His interests were ancient and American History, politics and creative writing, few knew of his literary pursuits, as he kept the historical fiction novels he wrote mostly to himself.
In his golden years he spent his winters waiting for summer and he spent his summers planting flowers in his garden, taking long walks with his dog Chloe, and telling his children and grandchildren stories of people and important events from his youth which built memories for his descendants, keeping his memory forever alive.
Those who loved Ralph believed him to be Indestructible as he had lived through polio as a teenager, a logging accident that led to facial reconstruction surgery in his 30s (humorously on his way into the operating room he told the doctor “make me look like Paul Newman”) an accident at a paper mill where he broke his back, a near fatal bout of pancreatitis in his late 50s, and the surprising diagnosis of breast cancer and a subsequent mastectomy in his 70s.
After a couple years of receiving dialysis from complications due to diabetes he was diagnosed with terminal lymphoma. He bravely made the decision to end life extending dialysis treatments to be out of further pain and to go happily and peacefully to meet with his savior Jesus Christ, where he will hold a place in heaven for his family.
Ralph was surrounded by the people who loved him during his final days at Summit Pacific Hospital in
Elma Washington where he passed peacefully in his sleep.
Elma Washington where he passed peacefully in his sleep.
Arrangements have been made with the kind and caring staff at Scotts Funeral Home of Tacoma Washington, where he will be cremated.
The family is holding a private memorial, and at a later date will scatter his ashes in his home state of Maine.
Ralphs children would like to acknowledge and thank their sibling Jeffrey Osgood for the dedication, love and care he provided our father in his final days.
We love and miss you Papa, you are forever in our hearts.
I miss your presence in this world, everything feels different now and I cant believe you are really gone. I want to thank you for your influence, You taught me some of the most important things in life you taught me to be kind to strangers for you never know when you may be entertaining angels unaware, and you taught me honesty and you taught me good morals values thank you for that. You taught me how to ride a bike. I remember when you broke your back at millinocket paper mill you couldn’t work that whole summer and you spent quality time with me and I would draw cartoons and you made little captions for them. and you would play me your country western records Rodger Whittaker & slim Whitman and I still can sing every word to those songs. And as I grew older you would teach me history and I always give you credit for knowing as much as I do what I know about history I didn’t learn in school I learned it from you. My heart hurts and I cry everyday. I love you Dad ..Part of me died with you ?
Jennifer Osgood