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Obituary for Ralph "Booner" Stanley
Ralph “Booner” Stanley, 86 of Earlham passed away on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at MercyONE Medical Center in Des Moines. Visitation will be held form 6-8 P.M. on Thursday, May 30th at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory in Earlham. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, May 31st at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory in Earlham. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, north of Earlham in Union Township. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Ralph Stanley Memorial Fund and sent in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Ralph was born on November 13, 1932 to Ralph Sr. and Delma (Harlan) Stanley on the family farm north of Earlham. He attended country schools and later Earlham High School. He began helping on the farm at a young age. Ralph then served in the United State Army. He was stationed in Japan and was leaving to deploy to Korea when the conflict ended. On November 17, 1955 he was united in marriage to Imogene Summerson in Bedford, Iowa. The couple lived for a short time in Roundup, Montana before moving to Dawson for a number of years and settling at the family farm north of Earlham. To this union four children were born: Ralph, Theressa, Brenda and Wesley.
Ralph was a lifelong farmer, taking pride in keeping the farm natural. He raised cattle and hogs; and was skilled at breaking horses. Ralph manufactured several leather horse tack accessories. He enjoyed gardening, reading and traveling to the Spencer and Iowa State Fairs. Ralph never met a stranger and was always there to lend a helping hand to friends and neighbors. He had a quick wit and loved to laugh and tell stories; but most of all he treasured time he was able to spend with his family. Ralph was active in the Redfield Saddle Club and the Perry Promanators Square Dance Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Imogene; granddaughter, Heather Lewis; sisters, Margaret Jones and Barb Throckmorton; brothers-in-law: Mavin Barnett, Orville Jones, Warren “Red” Rees and Jerry Throckmorton; and sister-in-law, Sharon Stanley.
Ralph leaves behind his children: Ralph “Tad” (Donette) Stanley III of Earlham, Theressa (Jerry) Kral of Woodward, Brenda (Chuck) Lewis of Earlham and Wesley (Laura) Stanley of Earlham; grandchildren: Dustin Stanley, Ralph Nathanial (Tory) Stanley IV, Trevor (Katie) Stanley, Alysha DeHoet, Dylan (Carrie) Kral, Chelsey (Dillion) Devine, Clint (Cacy) Hupp, Jaime (Mark) Shoesmith, Sheryl Miller, Stephanie (Rob) Rhoades, Greg Lewis, Justin (Estelyn) Stanley, Jacob Stanley, Katelyn Stanley; great-grandchildren: Cecelia, Ralph Arlo V, Henry Nash, Cole, Cayla, Camryn, Addison, Ty, Waylon, Sydnee, Cyler, Logan, Kaylee, Mason, Annabelle, Cody, Nick, Tallis and two more on the way; great-great-granddaughter, Novah; siblings: Martha Rees, Charles (Beck) Stanley, Helen (Larry) Gilbert, Jim (Kathy) Stanley; sister-in-law,: Susie Reed and a host of family and friends that will miss him dearly.
