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Ralph G. Sloane 1918-2008 Ralph was born May 1918 in Crowley, Louisiana. He lived on a rice farm until the age of 12 when he moved to the small town of Welsh, LA. He graduated from Welsh High School in 1937 where he received outstanding athlete awards for participation in basketball, track and baseball. He attended a local college for two years prior to serving in the U.S. Army for four years during WWII. He spent most of his time in the "original" Persian Gulf Command in charge of a truck convoy delivering supplies to Russia as the Germans were about take Stalingrad. He would share many stories about these trips including times when the convoy would be stopped just short of the Russian border so the Russians could put "Made in Russia" on the outside of all of the containers. He lost many buddies during the war but was very proud of his service. He remembered with pride when General Eisenhower was in a parade and saluted him while wearing his uniform in New York City. After the war he returned to school at Louisiana State University on the GI Bill. He met the love of his life, Elaine Triche, on his first day of class. He obtained his BS from LSU in 1947 and his Masters in Education in 1949. He was a faithful fan of the LSU Tigers for the rest of his life. He married Elaine in 1949 and relocated to Albuquerque, NM after a one year in Kingman, AZ. They raised three children; Ralph Jr. (Ron), Andrew and D'Elaine (DD). Ralph and Elaine both worked as junior high school teachers. Ralph taught for 31 years. He kept his Louisiana connections current with many cross country trips to visit friends and relatives. He was an avid reader (especially westerns), a fine writer and an excellent story teller. People enjoyed his hand written letters. He compiled a family history book and left a detailed autobiography. In the 60's Ralph and Elaine purchased a lot in the Brazos Box (near Chama) and built a mountain cabin with extra money he earned teaching speed reading classes at Kirtland Air Force Base and selling suits at Strongbergs at night. They enjoyed the cabin with many friends and family over the last 40 years introducing several people to the high mountain country and to the thrill of trout fishing. The family still enjoys the cabin. One of his granddaughters recently became engaged along the Brazos River. He was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, NM. In 2006, Ralph relocated to San Luis Obispo, CA to live with his daughter. He passed September 5, 2008 at the age of ninety. His wife, Elaine, preceded him in death in 2001. He is survived by his three children, Ralph Jr. and Terry Sloane and their children, Marie, Jean and Frank (Farmington, NM), Andrew and Beth Sloane and their children, Jennifer (LSU Grad), Rebecca (LSU sophomore) and Emily (LSU potential) Mechanicsville, VA, and daughter, D'Elaine (DD) and Mike Patrick and their children, Allison, Michelle and Elise, San Luis Obispo, CA. A Memorial Service will be held in Albuquerque at Saint John's Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona NE, at 10:00 a.m. on Friday September 11th and a viewing will be held Thursday September 10th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at French Mortuary on Lomas and Eubank. He will be buried next to his wife in the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM. Memorial gifts may be sent to Saint John's United Methodist Church Chorale Fund or to the charity of your choice. French Mortuary, Inc. 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500 www.frenchmortuary.com
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