MILHAN, Ralph Lloyd 1927-2013

MILHAN, BUNSTON, STARRY, INMAN, RANKIN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/30/2013 at 15:58:35

Ralph Lloyd Milhan

Former Riceville area resident, Ralph Lloyd Milhan, 86, of Sioux City passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2013, at Countryside Senior Living.

Military funeral honors were conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, April 8, at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel by Chaplain Steve Peters of the 185th Air Refueling Wing. Military graveside service by the U.S. Naval Reserves were held at Memorial Park cemetery in Sioux City.

Ralph was born on his Grandma Amelia Milhan’s farm located southeast of Riceville on Feb. 26, 1927, the son of Arthur and Agnes (Bunston) Milhan. He attended Afton No. 2 country school near Acme. In 1944, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Mason City, Iowa, and served in the South Pacific during World War II on board the warship USS Santa Fe. While attending Navy basic training, Ralph graduated from Farragut High School in Bayview, Idaho, and later in life, he attended Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona.

During World War II, Ralph served in Admiral “Bull” Halsey’s Task Force 58 and for his service was awarded several medals and awards including the Asiatic Pacific Theater of War with four battle stars, a Presidential Unit Citation Medal, Occupation Medal with Clasp, World War II Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, and a Korean War Medal. He also served in the U.S. Navy Security Police at Great Lakes Navy Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill. He was then transferred to Norfolk, Va. with the Flagship of the 4th Marine Amphibious Combat, the USS Mt. McKinley. He served in the Mediterranean Sea Unit until he was honorably discharged Nov. 27, 1959.

On April 17, 1947, Ralph was united in marriage with Bernice June Starry in McIntire. They lived in McIntire, where they were blessed with two children, Margery and Roger. Ralph hauled coal and ice for a few years in McIntire and Riceville. In 1951-57, they lived in Charles City where Ralph worked at Oliver Corp and was a driver for Ready Mix. In 1957-59, the family lived in Zion, Ill. where Ralph was a police sergeant for the Zion Police Department. In 1959-60, the family moved to Craddock, Virginia. In 1960, the family moved to Charles City where he drove a Curtis Candy truck on weekends and drove school bus. Ralph joined the Charles City police department and was promoted to Lieutenant.

On October 24, 1972, Ralph married Martha (Inman) Rankin at Las Vegas, Nevada. They lived for a short time in Charles City and moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he was employed by a recreation motor vehicle center and was shop foreman and service writer.

After retirement they moved to Sioux City, where he was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, life member of Disabled Veterans, member of Grace United Methodist Church, Siouxland Senior Center, Northwest Iowa Wood Carvers, the Arizona Federation of Martial Arts, for which he holds a 1st degree Black Belt, and he taught Judo at the Mesa, Arizona, Y.M.C.A.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Martha Milhan of Sioux City; daughter, Margery (Larry) Leibold, of Humboldt; son, Roger (Debra) Milhan, of Mason City; adopted daughter, Sherri (Raymond) Ullrich of Dakota City; and four grandchildren, Randy (Mieka) Milhan, of Clear Lake, Wade Milhan, of Cass Lake, Minn, Bobbi Kay Milhan, of Mason City, Nicci Leibold, of Huntington Beach, Calif., Melissa Ullrich and Matthew Ullrich, both of Omaha; and three sisters, Leona Arndt, of Charles City, Esther Shoger, of Riceville, and Mary of Edgewood.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Harold Milhan, and a sister, Anna Mae Marvin.

Source: Charles City Press - April 30, 2013