Ralph A. Minard II, age 68, passed away on Monday, June 6, 2022, after a seven-year battle with cancer.
Ralph was born Nov. 27, 1953, to Ralph A. Minard Sr. and Mary Jane (Sackos) Minard of (Eaglemount) Port Townsend, Washington. In 1970 Ralph and his parents moved from Port Townsend to San Antonio, Texas, where he lived until his death. Ralph graduated high school in 1971. In 1975 he married Brenda Sue Griffin. They remained married for 39 years and had two beautiful children, Brandon and Tiffany, making their home in Floresville, Texas. In 1979 he started RAM II, General Contractors, Inc., successfully running it for more than 40 years.
Ralph loved sports. Besides being an all-star pitcher himself, he was an NCAA college baseball umpire for 35 years. He has umpired for 51 different colleges, many of the Big 12 games, and the World Series! When the Major League Baseball umpires went on strike, they called in some of the NCAA umpires and Ralph called Pro baseball for a time. He loved baseball! Also, he was a season ticket holder for 40 years with the San Antonio SPURS, and when he had time he traveled often to the football games of the Dallas Cowboys, even flying up to Seattle when Dallas played the Seahawks, spending time with his beloved family, all the time trying to win a Seahawk fan over to his side.
Ralph was the life of the party. He could walk into a room with 100 people and within an hour everyone would know him and love him. He loved to travel everywhere and anywhere, was fun-loving and extremely funny, and no one could tell a story like Ralph. Yes, if needed, he may have embellished it a bit, but it surely made for a more interesting and entertaining story by adding just that little extra detail. He loved to make people laugh. His life was cut short too soon, but he did, indeed, have a very full life. He will always be remembered, and never forgotten. Good Paradise Ralph.
Ralph is survived by his daughter, Tiffany Laine Minard of Floresville, Texas; his sister Meredith A. Davis of Sequim, Wash. and her three children and seven grandchildren: Brett (Lori), Braydon and Tommy Davis of Sultan, Wash.; Shandy (Jeff), Grayson and Alivia Adams of Everett, Wash.; Dusty (Alicyn), Makayla, Madison, and William Davis of Eagle, Idaho; his sister Marilyn Suttle of Weed, California and her two children and three grandchildren, Michael Suttle of San Antonio, Texas; Pat (Jill), Tyler, Hanna, and Travis Suttle of Rocklin, Calif.; his very best friend Rocky Fountain and family of Port Townsend, Wash., whom he loved dearly. Ralph is also survived by his wife of 5 years, Ruby Minard, her children and grandchildren: Elizabeth Hamilton; Amanda (Albert), Oliver & Grayson Garcia; Kenneth (Josephine) & Kenneth Hamilton; and in-laws Ralph & Epifania DeLuna, Sr.
He was preceded in death by his loving son, Brandon Ryan Minard; and his parents, Ralph and Mary Minard. Ralph was loved so much by us all and will be forever missed.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 8 at Porter Loring, 1101 McCullough Ave., San Antonio, Texas 78212. In lieu of flowers, it was Ralph's wish for your tax-deductible donations to go to Port Townsend High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, where a scholarship will be created in Ralph's name in honor of his son, Brandon: c/o Joanne Gillis, Treasurer, 24 Pelton Court, Port Ludlow, WA 98365.
