Ralph Bostick Jr.

We lost a unique husband, father, uncle, son-in-law, brother-in-law and friend on Jan. 11, 2016. We will miss his "ralphisms" as well as his mischievous and all-knowing grin. He was born Oct. 4, 1947, in Clinton, Kentucky, to Ralph Bostick, Sr. and Cleopatra Mosier with older brother William "Pete" and sister Judy.
After graduating from Hickman County High School, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 at Fort Campbell. In 1967, he married Margaret Gibson, and his son, Michael, was born. They divorced in 1974. He was stationed in Bellheim, Germany; Fort Lee, Virginia; and Fort Wainwright, receiving an honorable discharge in 1975. He worked for Ron's Towing until his final job through retirement with the Department of Defense in Whittier, Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright.
On April 22, 1978, he met Charlotte Davis who became his life partner for 38 years and wife for four years, adopting her family. Ralph enjoyed camping, fishing, boating and traveling all over Alaska. He bought a trailer in 1978, moving it to Chena Hot Springs Road in 1982. With the help of many friends, it became the Hog and Dog Homestead. He raised Tibetan Mastiffs, hogs, chickens, rabbits, ducks, turkeys and goats. Ralph was skeptical of, but nonetheless very supportive of, his wife's many activities. They roamed the East Coast from Vermont to Florida by car on month-long trips. After retirement in 2001, he washed dishes at Two Rivers Lodge for spending money for travel to Hawaii, Mexico, Belize, New Zealand and Australia.
In July 2011, he had open-heart surgery. Thanksgiving Day 2011, after proposing for 30 years, Charlotte agreed to marriage. Two days later, he was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer and given a prognosis of 12 months. They had an Alaskan-style Hawaiian wedding Jan. 22, 2011, at the Fairbanks Pioneers Home. In 2013, prostate cancer started taking its toll. He fought hard through his cancers and treatment, always cheerful, friendly, grateful and kind, despite being sick. He died peacefully from pneumonia at home with his wife, brother and sister-in-law in attendance.
His father, mother and sister predeceased him. Ralph is survived by wife Charlotte, brother Pete, niece Betty Lynn, nephew Ken, son Michael Smith, the Davis tribe, former wife Margaret Smith, former mother-in-law Helen Gibson and his many, many friends.
Many thanks go to his health care team: Cindy Davis, Drs. Steiner, Huffer, Lieberman, Andrew Cox, Chiu, Woller, Shihadeh, Bartling, Advanced Nurse Practitioner O'Block, and the staff at FMH, Cancer Treatment Center and Hospice.
Ashes will be scattered at 2 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Hog and Dog Homestead. Ralph's Final Hawaiian Party starts at 4 p.m. at Two Rivers Lodge. Anyone who knows Ralph or Charlotte is invited; wear a Hawaiian outfit in his honor. Please RSVP at 488-6187 with number attending, or for a mailed copy of the complete obituary. Donations may be made to Breast Cancer Detection Center of Fairbanks or Fairbanks Pioneers' Home Foundation.