1 August 1931 – 2 August 2020
Ralph DeVito, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away the day after his 89th birthday.
Ralph (Raffaele) was born on August 1, 1931 in Guardia Lombardi, Italy to Giuseppe (Joe) and Angela (Gentile) DeVito. In early 1938 he immigrated to the USA with his parents and older sister finally settling in Farrell, PA where he grew up with his sister Grace (DeVito) Rocco and younger brother Nick. While attending Penn State University he was drafted into the army and served two years during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return home he completed his BSEE degree at Youngstown, Ohio. He was a member of Alpha Phi Delta fraternity. He met his future wife Alix-Gay (Ransom) Harper in August 1969 and they married on February 1, 1975. Together they raised three children, son Dana R. DeVito, son Lee L. Harper, and daughter Lane (Harper) Schrepel.
As an electrical engineer Ralph spent his career working in the space sciences which included the B-1 bomber, Peacekeeper and Titan missile programs, and Space Shuttle systems.
Ralph had a passion for golfing, skiing, playing bridge, traveling, and wine making. He had a small vineyard and orchard and access to different wild berries, all of which were used for a variety of delicious wines. His favorite meal consisted of pasta with red sauce, green salad with hot peppers, sourdough bread and a dessert of ice cream and fruit. He enjoyed Hershey’s candy and granola bars for his snacks. He loved classical music as well as show tunes and music from the 40s and 50s. Twice while golfing he scored a hole-in-one. There were no witnesses for the first one but there was one for the second and he was mentioned in the local newspaper and his name added to a plaque in the clubhouse. Every winter, if there was enough snow he would get out his “Flexible Flyer” and go sledding down the hillside laughing and giggling all the way. Ralph’s personality was gregarious, generous, loyal, honest and kind, and his smile, laughter and giggles were infectious.
Retiring to Longview, WA in 1995 Ralph and Gay traveled the world visiting friends and family and making many new friends along the way. Together they hosted couch-surfing guests from around the world for many years which gave them great pleasure.
Ralph is survived by his wife Gay and sister Grace, his children Dana, Lee and Lane, grandchildren Faith and Casey DeVito, Vola (Harper) Moore, Alex Harper, Ali and Adam Schrepel, five great-granddaughters, nieces Constance (Rocco) Marini, and Angela (Rocco) Aiello, and multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.
He will be cremated and interred with military honors at Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, OR on Sept. 2, 2020..
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