Obituary of Ralph Andrew Darrough

Ralph A. Darrough, 93, of Greeley, passed away Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at North Colorado Medical Center. He was born June 7, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri to David O. and Ruth L. (Vansickle) Darrough. He graduated from Sunnydale Academy, in Centralia, MO in 1947. Ralph was in the Army Medical Corps from 1950 – 1956, and served 16 months in Korea as a surgical technician in a Field Hospital, and then four years in the reserves. He was honorably discharged on June 21, 1956. He was privileged to go on a Veterans Honor Flight to the monuments in Washington D.C. on 9-11-2016. Ralph graduated from Union College, Lincoln, NE in 1960. At Colorado University in Boulder, CO he completed his M.A. in School Administration. He completed other post-graduate classes at Andrews University in Michigan. In 1953 he married Mary Kathryn Shoemate. She preceded him in death on March 26, 1995. In 1999 he married Lois A. Watters. Ralph was an Ordained Minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. For 35 years, he served as a Pastor and/or Teacher & School Administrator in the Rocky Mountain and Michigan Conferences of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Ralph was an Emeritus Honorary Minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was a member of the Korean War Veterans Association. Ralph was a volunteer instructor of Lapidary at the Greeley Senior Center, and a member of the Weld County Rock and Mineral Society. He was a 16 year volunteer treasurer for the Adventist Christian School. He was a board member of the Greeley Seventh-day Adventist Church. Ralph is survived by his wife, Lois Arlene Watters of Greeley; a daughter, Susan E. Alexander of CO; one son, Brian D. Darrough and wife Theresa of TN; a daughter-in-law, Sheri Darrough of CA; two step-daughters, Debra VanHille and husband Bradley of CO and Carolyn Marshall and husband Don of KS; two brothers, Fred Darrough of MO and Lloyd Darrough of NE, eight grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, a daughter, Leesa Darrough, a son, Mark Darrough, one grandchild, three sisters, and a brother. A funeral service will be held at 10:00a.m. Monday, January 24, 2022 at Greeley, Seventh-day Adventist Church. Interment Linn Grove Cemetery. After Mary’s passing, Ralph set up the Mary Darrough Memorial Fund to help children who wanted to go to school. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Adventist Christian School, 622 33rd Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634, Attention: Treasurer. Friends may send condolences to the family at adamsoncares.com.