Ralph A Murdoch
October 18, 1925 — December 20, 2015
Ralph Murdoch
Manti, UT
Ralph "Abe" Alexander Murdoch, 90, of Manti, UT, formerly of American Fork, UT, passed away on December 20, 2015 at his home. Ralph was born on October 18, 1925 in American Fork to Murray Alexander and Priscilla Pulley Murdoch. Ralph married Glenda Richins on August 4, 1950 in Pleasant Grove, and together had five children. They later divorced. He married Susan Elizabeth Pixley on October 9, 1992 and had a daughter.
Ralph was an avid outdoorsman and horseman his entire life. He enjoyed sports and was proud of being on a winning football team in 1942 that never allowed their opponent to score a single point.
He served three years with the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific during World War II, where he received the Purple Heart. He worked in the private sector in the mining and livestock industries and began working seasonally for the National Park Service in 1958 as a laborer. He entered a permanent caretaker position at the Timpanogos Cave National Monument in 1963 and has held subsequent positions as maintenance man and maintenance foreman until he retired in 1988.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Susan; children: Murray (Kathy) Murdoch, Pleasant Grove, UT; Debra (Mark) Thompson, Highland, UT; Susan (Alan) Slack, Palisade, CO; Jone (Jon) Varney, Highland, UT; Sharon (David) Laycock, American Fork, UT; Kate Murdoch, Manti, UT. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Carol Murdoch; 19 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. Ralph is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Irene; brothers, Elmo and Francis; and sister-in-law, Betty.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the LDS ward chapel located at 1548 North 900 West in Pleasant Grove, UT. Friends may call prior to services at the church from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the American Fork Cemetery with military honors. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to your local Veterans organization.
"God forbid that I should go to any heaven in which there are no horses."