Ralph D. Wineteer

In Memory of Ralph Daniel Wineteer 

Ralph was born to Clarence Wineteer and Grace Logan in Los Angeles, California on July 25, 1924. He passed away on February 5, 2025, lovingly cared for by his grandson Jim, his wife Heather, and the care givers from Bristol Hospice. Ralph grew up during the Depression in Wilmington, California with his parents and five siblings. He graduated in 1941 from Phineas Banning High School, where he participated and competed in gymnastics. He credits that training with preparing him for later Air Force training and keeping him fit and flexible throughout his life.

Ralph served in the military from 1944-1946. He was a B-17 pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force. After training, he was sent to Foggia, Italy where he flew missions over northern Italy and southern Germany until the war ended. 

In 1948 he met Ruth Cole at a dance and they married in 1949. They had three children while living in Wilmington, California – Gary Bruce (1951), Marcia Lynne (1953), and Craig Brian (1955). 

In 1956 Ralph and his family moved to Grants Pass to a small dairy farm on Redwood Avenue. Ralph operated the dairy farm from 1956-1960. Ralph worked in many other professions during his 100 years of life. He listed 19 different jobs, including agent for United Airlines, boat building, truck driver, dairy farmer, ditch walker, service station and petroleum equipment service, several positions in trucking and warehouse businesses, general contracting, and land developer. He didn’t fully retire until 2012, at the age of 88.

Ralph and Ruth divorced in 1969 and later that year he met Jeanne Loar Bruce, who he married in May 1970. They were married for 48 years, until her death in 2018. Ralph and Jeanne moved several times, first to Oakland, California, then to the Phoenix, Arizona area, with frequent visits back to Grants Pass to see friends and family. They enjoyed time together traveling with friends and family, playing golf, and socializing in their retirement park in Sun City.

Ralph will be well remembered for his wit and sense of humor, which he maintained up to the very end of his life. He also loved to read books, magazines, and staying up to date with golf, football, and current events.

Ralph is survived by two of his children; Marcia and Craig; four grandchildren Jim (Heather) Wineteer, Erin Rose, Molly Wineteer, and Nicholas Wineteer; five great-grandchildren Jacob Wineteer, Bethany (Caleb) Forsyth, Madison Rose, James Oaks, and Wild River Oaks; and three great-great-granddaughters Annabelle, Alice, and Ariel Forsyth. He is preceded in death by his wife Jeanne Loar Wineteer, son Gary Wineteer, grandson Eric Wineteer, and ex-wife Ruth Cole Wineteer.

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