Leonard Ralph Stidham

Leonard Ralph Stidham FALLBROOK -- Leonard Ralph Stidham was born in Electra, Texas on December 13, 1927. He moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico at the start of his high school years when his father bought a meat market there. Ralph enjoyed playing football, singing with a beautiful voice, violin, and fun with good friends. Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve his country during World War II. After an honorable discharge, Ralph enrolled at New Mexico State University where he majored in Chemistry. There he met Fama Louise Jones at the Baptist Student Union and the First Baptist Church of Las Cruces. They married in 1949 and were happily together for 62 years. He was called back to the Navy during the Korean War. He finished a Master's degree in Mathematics and worked in the early days of computing. Ralph and Fama have four children, Marila, Mark, Lisa, and Martin. In 1962, he moved with his family to Costa Mesa, California and began working as an aerospace engineer for North American/Rockwell. He worked on the Apollo Project, the Space Shuttle, and other projects. He joyfully served as a deacon and choir director for many years at several Baptist churches. Among his favorite things was taking his family on wonderful camping trips to most of the National Parks in the western United States and Canada. Eventually, he retired to Fallbrook, California where he worked four acres of avocados. He is survived by his wife; his four children; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson. His only sister, Ruth Jeannine Polston, preceded him in death earlier this year. There will be a visitiation held between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., with funeral services held at 11:30 a.m., on Wednesday, September 7th, at Poway-Bernardo Mortuary in Poway. He will be greatly missed by his family who are very thankful for such a wonderful husband and father. May he rest in God's great peace. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com