×

Ralph Elmer Fargo

Ralph Elmer Fargo, 91, of Klamath Falls, Ore., passed away Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, at his home.

Born March 23, 1928, in Gerry, N.Y., he was the fifth child of Ellsworth Elmer Fargo and Miriam Maude (Devine) Fargo.

On Oct. 7, 1950, he married Elaine Lillian (Anderson) Fargo. This past October they celebrated their 69th anniversary with family, including his younger sister, Eleanor (Fargo) Nelson.

Ralph attended Falconer High School before he joined the U.S. Navy in 1945. He always joked that World War II ended because he joined! Ralph served in the Pacific until his honorable discharge in 1949. He was aboard the USS Conserver and took part in the atomic testing at Bikini Island. A memory he often shared was about viewing two atomic bombs that sunk enemy ships during this testing.

After the U.S. Navy Ralph worked for Art Metal, Jamestown, where he learned his welding trade. That welding trade was used in various forms including his own business, Fargo Muffler & Welding, and work with the City Of Long Beach. While working for the City of Long Beach, he designed and built the “Flotsom Dipper,” the first of its kind, to skim the waters of the Long Beach Port and Marina to recover all the trash in its waters.

Besides New York, Ralph and Elaine lived in Florida, Arizona, California (52 years), Nevada and eventually Oregon, where they could be near their oldest daughter, Pam. Ralph was an avid Los Angeles Dodgers fan, traveled about the country in his RV, panned for gold, used metal detectors to discover hidden treasures, loved to play cards, bocce ball (lawn bowling) and bean bag baseball. While he had his welding and muffler business he also raced cars, a hobby that has been passed down to his son, David and grandson, Bryan.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 69 years, Elaine Lillian Anderson Fargo; his daughter, Pamela Fargo Neumeister (Gary) and son, David R Fargo (Doris); six grandchildren: Heather Youngberg (Jason), Jennifer Neumeister, Mark Neumeister (Heather), Bryan Fargo (Liz), Alison Falleker (Curt) and Ryan Brown, 19 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great- grandchildren; and his sister, Eleanor Fargo Nelson, of Conroe, Texas.

Ralph was preceded in death by his daughter, Lynn Marie Fargo-Brown; his brothers: Harry, Harold, Herbert and Robert; his sister, Gladys, and his parents, Ellsworth and Miriam Fargo.

A memorial service/ celebration of life will be held March 21, 2020 at 1 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3275 Cedar Ravine, Placerville, Calif.

Arrangements are being handled by the family. Interment will be at a later date at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cypress, Calif.

You may send words of condolence to efargo333 @yahoo.com