Ralph S. Moore

Ralph S. Moore, known internationally as the "Father of Modern Miniature Roses," left this earthly life on September 14, 2009. Ralph was born in rural Visalia on January 14, 1907, the eldest child of Orlando and Muriel Moore, and grandson of Visalia's early Moore, Reynolds and Cutler families. Moore attended local schools and was in the second graduating class of College of the Sequoias. There he put on the school's first rose show before going on to University of California at Davis. In 1987 he became a charter member of the COS Hall of Fame. In 1937, Ralph Moore opened Sequoia Nursery east of Visalia with an idea, $800 and a few hundred roses. Twenty years later, his love of roses led to the business becoming a specialty nursery, Moore Miniature Roses. Over the years he bred and introduced over 500 varieties of roses, as well as other types of plants. After 71 years of business in the same location, Moore Miniature Roses on E. Noble Ave closed on April 30, 2008. Moore was a member of Visalia First Presbyterian Church, where he served many years as trustee, elder and Sunday School teacher. He was the oldest living member of the American Rose Society. He also belonged to the International Plant Propagators Society and was a life member of the San Joaquin Valley Rose Society. Moore was preceded in death by his wife Ann. He is survived by his son Keith and wife Marcia of Visalia, and two daughters, Eleanor Bergthold and husband Roland of Fresno and Mona Sorenson of Eugene, Oregon. He had eleven grandchildren: Mike Moore and wife Diana, Scott McElroy and wife Stephanie, Michelle Glick and husband Joel, and Debbie O'Brien and husband Travis, all of Visalia; Stacey Marshall and husband Ron of Hanford; Melissa Mecham and husband Pat of Elko NV; Sheri Dones and husband Ken of Fresno; David Bergthold and wife Laurie of Oceanside; Kevin Bergthold and wife Jessica of Wheat Ridge CO; Curt Sorenson and wife Lisa and Shawn Sorenson all of Eugene OR. Moore also had twenty great-grandchildren: Matthew, Elizabeth, Hannah, Nicole, Shane, Shannon, Kelbi, Jenna, Jessica, Zachery, Christopher, Erin, Kayla, Zack, Austin, Emma, Jettsen, Zahra, Ryan and Katie, and one great-great grandchild, Cameron. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, October 3 at the First Presbyterian Church in Visalia at 10:00 AM. Remembrances may be made to First Presbyterian Memorial Fund, 215 N Locust St, Visalia CA 93291, or the Ralph S. Moore Miniature Rose Excellence Fund (#57808), Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840-2811.