Ralph Jarvis Hutchens

Hutchens, Ralph Jarvis 92 of Mesa, Arizona passed away April 3, 2014. He was born May 20, 1921 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Ralph graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School with the class of 1939. He married Wanda LaVonne Colwell July 19, 1942. Their romance began while they were sophomores in high school. She passed away June 10, 2008. They had 2 children; Karen Sue Cecil of Mesa, Arizona and John Carl Hutchens of Gold Canyon, Arizona. John passed away on May 27, 2008. Ralph worked as an optician receiving his Masters in Ophthalmic Optics in 1973. He owned Barnet and Ramel Optical Company in Omaha, Nebraska for many years. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Men’s Golf League at Sunland Village East in Mesa, Arizona. He received his private pilot license in 1963. He and his wife belonged to a formal dance club in Omaha, Nebraska. He was an avid reader and loved working crossword puzzles. Ralph joined the Army Air Corps in 1942. He was stationed in England during his service in WWII. One of his greatest joys was his Honor Flight Trip to Washington, DC to see the WWII Memorial. Ralph is survived by his daughter Karen; granddaughters Julie Ann Donley of Sterling, Virginia; Cheri Elizabeth Hobbs and her husband Jon William Hobbs as well as their children Jon Edward, Kyle Richard and Brian William. Ralph was a wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He will be missed by all.