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Corley, Ralph George 88, of Affton. Passed away December 28, 2013, surrounded by family. Devoted husband of Dolores Corley (nee Graf). Brother to Leola Lohman, Jane Meeker (Joseph), Bernice Mori, Thomas Corley (Mary). Predeceased by parents George and Johanna Corley, brother George Corley, and sisters Alma Vogt and Rita Harman. Loving father of Christopher Corley (Karen), Kathleen Corley (Moacyr Marchini), Constance Corley, Maureen Corley (Jim Morris) and Lawrence Corley (Cheryl). Proud grandfather of Alana and Emily Saltz, Elizabeth Corley and Lauren and David Corley. Cherished brother-in-law, uncle, colleague, friend and neighbor to many. Ralph was born in St. Louis on May 15, 1925 and attended St. Thomas Aquinas and later South Side Catholic High for two years. In February 1942 he enlisted in the Navy; his ship, the USS DeHaven, became the first destroyer escort lost in the Guadalcanal campaign when it took on enemy fire and was sunk. He was awarded a Purple Heart. Later, he served on the USS Porter and achieved the rank of Soundman First Class. In 1946, he met Dolores Graf, a lovely, blue-eyed brunette at a dance. They married June 21, 1947 at St. Anthony of Padua. Ralph graduated from Washington University in 1951 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and an M.S. in Engineering Management from Missouri S&T in 1973. He spent 25 years in the Corporate Engineering Department of Monsanto and mentored young engineers. He later worked at O'Brien Equipment and HamptonTilley, and was a longtime member of the ISA. In retirement he enjoyed traveling with Dolores to Tin Can Sailor reunions. In 2003 he recounted the sinking of the DeHaven for a documentary on The History Channel. A devout Catholic, he was a parishioner of St. Pius V and for 45 years, St. Dominic Savio. Ralph and Dolores worked hard to provide an outstanding education for all five of their children, for which they are eternally grateful. Services: Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Rd., St. Louis, MO; visitation Friday January 3, 4:009:00 pm; mass Saturday January 4 10:00 am St. Dominic Savio Church, 7748 MacKenzie Rd, Affton, MO. Interment Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery. Donations may be made to the USS DeHaven Sail ors Assoc. Scholarship Fund, the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society or the VFW.
Kutis Funeral Home, Inc, Affton Chapel
10151 Gravois Road
St. Louis, MO 63123
(314) 842-4458
Published in St. Louis Post-Dispatch from Jan. 1 to Jan. 2, 2014
