Obituary of Ralph Irwin

Ralph W.E. Irwin, Jr. was born July 1, 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fourth of six children born to the Rev. and Mrs. Ralph W.E. (Lucille Jones) Irwin, Sr. He was educated in the Philadelphia public school system (McMichael Elementary and West Philadelphia High School). As a young man, he was brought up in the African Methodist Episcopal Church where his father pastored and he was active in Youth activities, serving for a time as the Superintendent of Allen Christian Endeavor league of West Philadelphia. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Youth Choir...Mrs. Money, director. Work experience began with the Pennsylvania Railroad. During World War II, Uncle Sam sent a letter and he answered the call serving in the 829th Engineer Aviation Battalion. This group built, maintained and defended the airstrips in Europe. After the war this group was known as "The Eight-Twenty-Ninth Buddies". (The "Buddies" had sixty annual meetings before their numbers decreased and all meetings were ceased.) The last ten meetings were hosted in various cities by Ralph and Bettye. Ralph served most of his Service in the European Theater of Operation, where he met and kept lifelong friends. When Ralph returned from the service, he enrolled and graduated from LaSalle College while working at the Post Office. He married Harrilease Durant and a son, Daryl, was born to this union. The union ended in divorce. He continued on the Education ladder graduating from the School of Education and the Law School at Temple University. He began his teaching career Sayre Junior High school (Philadelphia) and continued studies at the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University. Ralph married Dolores Hatfield and they had a son, Kent, and a daughter, Courtney. Dolores died when Courtney was thirteen. He continued his teaching and Post Office careers. When the Post Office offered: The Window of Opportunity" retirement, Ralph took advantage of the Retirement offer. Five years later he met and married Bettye Shropshire, a widow and the mother of a son, homer, who lived in Los Angeles. Ralph moved to Los Angeles and his Retirement days were over. He accepted a position at John Burroughs Junior high school in Los Angeles teaching Social Studies and a Pre-Law course that he wrote. Later he enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of San Francisco but did not defend his dissertation " "Using the Argumental Theory in Changing Human Minds." When challenges were put in Ralph's path, this is when he was able to do his best work. He was considered a Master teacher and was well-respected by his student and peers. After moving to California, Ralph joined his wife and became a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was offered many opportunities for Christian growth on the local, Presbytery, and Synod levels and willingly accepted the challenges. He, with his wife, "Dr. Bettye", served as Skipper of the National mariners, an outreach program of the National Presbyterian Church. Traveling was a big part of the Irwin's' life. Every Easter and on summer breaks, they traveled to foreign countries or somewhere in the USA where they had friends. The first summer they were married, Ralph wanted Bettye to see where he was stationed and to meet friends he met during WWII, so away they went to England and France... This was just the beginning. They never tired of telling about their cruises on Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2, and also their flight from Europe to the USA on the Concorde. They traveled to Jamaica, Germany, Italy Hong Kong, Thailand, Brussels, Switzerland, Mexico, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Canada, just to name a few. Before the turn of the century, the Irwin's moved to Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning, CA where they learned the true meaning of retirement. Ralph returned to his love of music and joined the Sun Lakes Chorale, where he performed with the group for fifteen concerts. He joined the Tuesday Prayer group and the Men's Prayer breakfast group at Beaumont Presbyterian Church. They soon learned that praying was a gift given him by God. He was a devout Christian, a faithful husband, a loving father, an adoring grand-father and one who loved his fellow man. No one was a stranger to him. He enjoyed Crossword Puzzles (using his ink pen), lecturing and writing. Ralph's parents preceded him in death; also his two brothers (Winston and Rupert) and 2 sisters (Helene and Eudora). Ralph leaves a beloved family: his wife, Bettye; sons: Darryl (Alba), Kent (Adele) and Homer; daughter Courtney (Stephen) Chesney; Sister, Anna Louise (Paul) Fisher); 4 grandsons and 2 granddaughters, many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends (including many former students). THE ANGEL OF PATIENCE O thou who mournest on thou way With longings for the close of day; He walks with them, that Angel kind. And gently whispers, "Be resigned: Bear up, bear on, the end shall tell The dear Lord ordereth all things well! JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER