Ralph Lee Le Fevre

Lieutenant Colonel Ralph L. LeFevre, USAF (Retired), passed away on April 1, 2017 in Longmont, Colorado. He was 94 years old. He was born to Ralph and Katherine Erwin LeFevre on Dec. 4, 1922 in Elkhart, Indiana.

Ralph graduated from Purdue University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Air Transportation. He was president of Alpha Kappa Lambda social fraternity.

Ralph entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. After graduating from twin engine pilot school, he served as a transport pilot in the Southwest Pacific, flying C-47 and C-46 aircraft from New Guinea to Borneo, the Philippines, Okinawa, and Japan. He retired from the USAF in June 1969 as a Command pilot.

Ralph was active in national politics. He was a founding member and life member of the Republication Presidential Task Force; a Life Member of the Republican National Committee and a member of the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle and the Presidential Roundtable. He received the Republican Senatorial Medal of Freedom in 1994, the highest honor the Republican members of the U.S. Senate can bestow.

After retirement, Ralph was employed at Hewlett-Packard from 1973 until retiring in 1989. Ralph was an excellent tennis player and he also enjoyed playing golf. He served as an elder, a deacon, and a regular usher at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, having been a member there since 1960. He was also a member of the Military Officers Association of America.

He was preceded in death by his parents in 1940, by his first wife Lois M. LeFevre (nee Eason) in 1979, by his second wife Sonja Rose Munson LeFevre (nee Iverson) in 2008, and by his older brothers, George, David and John Richard (Dick) LeFevre.

Ralph is survived by his two daughters: Annette Reitinger (Russ) of Longmont and Barbara LeFevre Lyons (Pierre) of Aurora; three grandchildren: Kate Ceus (Rich) of Mesa, AZ; Payce Lyons and Jaxon Lyons of Aurora; and three stepdaughters: Karen Woodall, Kirsten Williams, and Erica Rieber.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Board of Deacons at First Presbyterian Church.