James Ralph Hansen

James Ralph Hansen

James Ralph Hansen, born on January 1, 1922, died peacefully on May 11, 2015. He was born on a cattle ranch in northern Arizona the youngest of 4 children born to Sena and James Hansen. He graduated from Holbrook High School in 1939, continuing his education at the University of Arizona where he was a member of the horse cavalry ROTC.

World War II interrupted his education. He enlisted in the Army Air Force and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. During the war, he met his future wife Evelyn Knezik at a USO dance held at Chanute Field in Illinois. He became a corporal and was attending the officer candidate school at Ft. Benning when the war ended.

After marrying Evelyn, they returned to Tucson where Ralph graduated with a Bachelor and Master of Science on the same day in 1948 from University of Arizona. He then received his PhD in Plant Physiology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1951. After teaching a year at the University of Kentucky, Ralph and Evelyn moved to Wilmington in 1952 where Ralph began his career with Hercules Powder Company. He worked for Hercules for almost 4 decades, starting as an agricultural researcher and later becoming the international sales manager and operations manager for the agricultural chemical division. In these positions, Ralph travelled throughout the world.

Ralph served as President of the Northeast Weed Society and served as a deacon and elder for First and Central Presbyterian Church.

Upon retiring, Evelyn and Ralph spent many happy years as volunteers and staff at Longwood Gardens.

Ralph was pre-deceased by Evelyn in 2014. He is survived by his children, Janet Hansen and husband Bruce Drouin of Yarmouth, Maine, Eric Hansen and wife Nina of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania and Karen Hansen and her husband Robert Schneider of Brooktondale, New York. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Christopher, Sarah and Jonathan Drouin and April Hansen.

A celebration of Ralph's life will be held in the chapel of First and Central Presbyterian Church, 1101 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801, on Monday, May 18 at 11:00 with a coffee hour beginning at 10:00.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the charity of your choice in Ralph's memory.

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