Ralph Fredrick Wilkens

Born in Oak Park, Illinois, to Fredrick and Elizabeth Wilkens, he spent his first years in the Chicago area and moved to California at the age of five. He graduated from Mark Keppel High School in Alhambra in 1955 and enrolled in Pasadena City College. In the same year he joined the United States Army Reserve, serving until 1964.

In 1957 he married Mary Lisbeth Smith. Two sons were born, Fredrick Ralph Wilkens and Daniel John Wilkens. Although they divorced, Ralph and Beth remained friends.

In 1968 he met Kathryn Baughman and they married in March of 1969 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ralph and Kathryn recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.

Ralph was employed by the Southern California Edison Company in various capacities from 1957 to 1973. He then returned to college and received a Bachelor of Science degree from California Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1975. He continued his education there, earning a Master of Arts in Education in 1980.

Ralph spent his 23-year teaching career at Chaffey High School in Ontario, California. Although he mainly worked in the Science Department, he also taught cooking for a year in the Home Economics Department. He was named Science Department Chairman in 1981 and continued in that role until his retirement in 1999. He was a Mentor Teacher and received many awards throughout his career, most notably Chaffey High School Teacher of the Year in 1993. In 1996 he received a Distinguished Service Award.

Ralph loved to travel. He and Kathryn visited all 50 states, many more than once, and 27 countries. At home in Upland, Ralph joyfully maintained a large rose garden as well as California native plants and citrus trees. When he wasn’t working in the garden, he could often be found in the kitchen cooking. He loved reading mysteries, working crossword puzzles and listening to classical music, especially Beethoven and Mozart. On vacations in California and surrounding states he enjoyed hiking and exploring nature. He especially loved Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, where he hiked the Rim-to-Rim trail three times.

Ralph is survived by his wife Kathryn, sisters B.J. Dockray (Don) of San Juan Capistrano and Jan Winchell of Monument, Colorado. Ralph leaves behind many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was the patriarch of a large and loving family. Sons Fred (Reneé) and Dan (Susan) gave him eight grandchildren: Denise Wilkens, Sara Wilkens, Jesstella Vasquez; Miesha Carrillo, the late Nicole Wilkens, Daniel Wilkens, Travis Wilkens and Lucas Wilkens.

His legacy lives on in ten great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Nature Conservancy. The website address is http://www.nature.org/ Click on “Other Ways to Give.”