Ralph Vercoe

Vercoe, Ralph Thurman on July 18, 2012. Arrangements are being handled by M.J. Smith Sons Funeral Home at 255 9th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11215. For further information contact the funeral home directly at 718-788-2255.

Ralph Thurman Vercoe passed away at his home in Brooklyn, New York on July 18, 2012. He was born on February 15, 1922, at Mount Vernon, Washington to William “Henry” Vercoe and Edith Thurman Vercoe

Ralph graduated from Manson High School (Washington), Class of 1939. After high school, he went to the University of Washington, graduating in 1943 with a degree in Pre-Law.

During summers of the college years, he and friends worked in Alaska digging ditches for the railroads. Sometimes they had to chase moose off the tracks! The summer of 1942 he and roommates worked on an air base on Annette Island, Alaska.

By May 1943 he was in the U.S. Army. Ralph was a Staff Sergeant in the 3062nd Quartermaster Corp, 899 Tank Destroyer BN, serving in England, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. He was at the Battle of the Bulge and was Honorably Discharged in 1945. He was proud of his service and enjoyed going to the company reunions.

In the following years he was back in Alaska working in the gold mines. 1956-1958 he worked for Federal Electric Co. on the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line at Barrow, Alaska. In 1958 he moved from remote Barrow, Alaska to New York City continuing to work for Federal Electric. He loved New York, his new friends; his beloved opera and the Yankees so he chose to make New York his home. By 1961 he was working for the Social Security Department as a Fraud Investigator where he stayed until he retired.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Edith, brothers Harold and John; sisters Gertrude Johnson and Lucile Hubbard. He is survived by Vercoe and Thurman cousins; many nephews and nieces.

He didn’t have his own family but he loved watching his sibling’s families grow. He was so proud of everyone and their accomplishments. He was always excited to learn of weddings; births, graduations and all of their life’s adventures. Ralph was much loved by his dear friends and family and will be greatly missed.

Military services will be held on July 27, 2012 at the Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton (Long Island), New York. Memorials in Ralph’s name can be made to a military organization or those who wish to honor Ralph’s life could plant a tree, a flower, or a bush in remembrance of a life well lived.