Ralph Christie Smith's Obituary
RALPH CHRISTIE SMITH
1926 - 2008
Ralph was born October 15, 1926 in Oak Park, Illinois to Harry and Hazel Smith. Harry was a skilled airplane pilot. He flew for the first Airmail service. He was a test pilot and "barn storming" stunt pilot. He greeted Charles Lindbergh on his return from his solo Atlantic flight to Europe and escorted him to meet the President in Washington DC. Also, Harry helped create the China Airways and was a personal pilot for General Chiang Kai-Shek.
Ralph had happy childhood memories of living in China and traveling with Daddy, Mother, sister Frances, and brother Robert (all deceased) on big ocean liners and the famous "China Clipper" plane. Ralph loved flying and wanted to be a pilot like his father, sister, and brother (20yr. old Robert was shot down and killed over Germany in World War II). But, alas, Ralph was "grounded" by asthma. He, instead, graduated from the University of California in 1949 majoring in Mathematical Statistics. He worked for Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Co. in the Actuarial Dept. and also for the rocket industry at Aero Jet in Azusa, Calif., as a statistician. In 1953, Ralph entered San Anselmo Theological Seminary near San Francisco, Calif., where he received a Master of Divinity Degree and was ordained a Presbyterian minister. After ordination, Ralph moved to Washington and ministered to numerous churches on both sides of the mountain. Upon settling in the Tacoma area, Ralph became a so-called "Worker Priest", meaning that he ministered and also held down a regular job, too. Ralph worked as a Longshoreman for the Port of Tacoma. He enjoyed both the job and his fellow Longshoremen, who often called him simply "Preacher Smith". After a lengthy and valiant struggle, Ralph finally succumbed to lung and heart failure on November 15, 2008.
He is survived by wife Kathlene (Kathe) and children Robert Smith, Christie Wallace, Nina Sattely, Lori Smith, Linda Williams, Amy Gruebert, Deby Weber, Tina Robbins, Michael Neff, and numerous grandchildren. At Ralph's request, there will be no funeral service. He simply wants everyone to remember him however they wish, and he leaves us with these parting words: "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen"
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