Ralph Lynn

Ralph Lynn, Club President 1993-1994

Ralph Joel Lynn was born on December 20, 1926, and passed away peacefully at his family ranch in Sanger, CA, on Sunday, September 3, 2017, at the age of 90. Ralph grew up near Harrisburg, PA, where he had a passion for sports throughout high school and college. Graduating from high school in 1944, at the age of 17, Ralph joined the United States Submarine Service. Following the service, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Education at Pennsylvania State College where he also met his future bride, Elaine, of 65 years. Ralph and Elaine were married in 1951, and in 1953, they began their family with daughter, Patricia Anne, followed by Ralph Jr. "Skip", and Michael Scott. The family moved to Fresno where he worked for the Readers Digest to build and manage its new fundraising company QSP. Over the next 35 years, Ralph rose to the position of Executive Vice President of Sales, retiring in 1992.

During his lifetime, Ralph believed in investing in one's community and church. He served on the Clovis Unified School District School Board from 1963 to 1975, the Fresno County Trustees Association and helped form the Foundation for Clovis Schools. Ralph loved the teachers, faculty, and board members of the District, and supported it in
various ways for the rest of his life. He was active with the Fresno County Grand Jury, the Sanger Rotary Club, and Westerners International. He served as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and later as a longtime member of the Episcopal Church.

Growing up, the family remembers pack trips in the Sierra, road trips to the east coast, working and riding horses at the ranch on McKinley, and just being with dad. He was a wonderful father and loving husband and will be remembered for his easy smile, his quick wit, and his strong sense of honor and integrity. He will be greatly missed
by his family and friends. Ralph is survived by his wife Elaine; children, Patricia, Ralph Jr. and wife Heidi, and Scott and wife Robyn; sister Adele; and grandchildren, Sarah, Lorrie, Anna, Michael and wife Allison, and their children, Colton and Mason, Aaron and wife Jennifer, and their children, Blaire and Blakely.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. James Episcopal Cathedral, 4147 E. Dakota Avenue, Fresno, CA, on Saturday, October 14, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.

The Lynn family requests that remembrances may be made to the Foundation for Clovis Schools, 1450 Herndon Avenue, Clovis, CA 93611; or to Sanger Rotary, P.O. Box 22, Sanger, CA 93657, Attn., Ralph Lynn Memorial.

Published in the Fresno Bee on Oct. 1, 2017