Ralph I. Himes

Ralph I. Himes
Former Chelmsford resident, WWll Vet; 90

CONCORD, MA -- Ralph Irving Himes, 90, a resident of Concord, and former longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away June 20, 2015, at Walden Health and Rehabilitation in Concord.

He was the beloved husband of the late, Gloria Estelle (Donovan) Himes who passed away in 2010.

He was born in Providence, RI on July 26, 1924, a son of the late Willet and Elsie (Burdick) Himes. He grew up in Warwick, RI and attended schools there.

After high school, Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and trained as a navigator. While serving in North Africa, he was injured in an airplane crash and returned to the United States. He left active duty after the war, but remained in the Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard until retiring in 1971 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. While in the Air National Guard, Ralph traveled extensively throughout the world.

Ralph worked for many years as an airplane and automobile mechanic. He worked for a time at Hanscom Field in Bedford.

He was a longtime member of the Military Officers Association of America. Ralph also enjoyed everything about being outdoors, especially gardening, fishing and hunting. He was also an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching NASCAR, Bruins hockey, and Patriots football.

Ralph is survived by his daughter and son, Nancy Penney and her husband, Thomas of Littleton, and William Himes and his wife, Fran of North Carolina. He also leaves two grandchildren, Christopher Penney of Maryland, and Angela Himes of Florida; and two great-grandchildren, Eric and Justin Penney.

HIMES -- Visiting Hours will be held on Tuesday from 4 to 7 pm at the BLAKE FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. A Funeral Service will be Wednesday at 12 noon at the funeral home. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford.

Funeral Director, Paul A. Hardy, Jr. For online condolences, please visit WWW.BLAKEFUNERALHOME.COM and visit us on Facebook.