Ralph Sproston Jr. Obituary
We are sad to announce that on January 15, 2020, at the age of 97, Ralph Sproston Jr. (Farmington, New Mexico) passed away. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.
Ralph attained both the rank of Quartermaster in the Sea Scouts, and the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts. He remained actively working with the Boy Scouts through the later years of his life. He joined the Coast Guard in 1940. On January 29, 1941 he was a radioman on board the USCGC Alexander Hamilton (WPG-34) when she became the first United States military ship torpedoed in the Atlantic. Twenty -nine of his shipmates were lost in the attack that resulting in her sinking. Sometime after Ralph's lifeboat capsized in frigid water, he was rescued by local Icelandic fishermen but was reported to his parents as missing in action. After a time of recovery, he was back on duty in the Coast Guard and finished out the war. Later, Ralph served again in the Coast Guard during the Korean conflict with the grade of Lieutenant.
Ralph got his electrical engineering degree from the University of Kentucky on June 5, 1953 and then obtained his professional engineering license in 1957. Most of his professional career was spent working for Shell Oil.
He was predeceased by : his wife Kathleen Irwin, parents, Ralph George Sproston Sr. and Margaretha Senn Sproston, and his brothers, Paul Wallace Sproston and Robert L. Sproston Sr. He is survived by his daughter-in-law Laura Sproston Jacques; his granddaughter Katharine Louise Sproston of Ignacio, Colorado.; and his nephew Robert L. Sproston Jr. of Mishawaka, Indiana. Ralph will be laid to rest in Catlettsburg, Kentucky.
