Obituary of Ralph Norris Lipscomb

Ralph N. Lipscomb, a long-time resident of La Canada Flinatridge, CA, passed away at home on March 3, 2015, after a very brief illness. He passed at home, without pain, and in the arms of his beloved wife Bonnie Jean. Ralph was born on April 20, 1925 in Tres Pinos, California, a small town south of San Jose in the Central Valley. He moved to Gilroy when his father became manager of the local train station there. There he met his future wife, Bonnie, when they were both attending the local high school. He joined the Navy in 1943 and saw service as a Naval aviation machinist's mate with a patrol bombing squadrom. He received 2 stars as a combat air crewman over Japan aboard a naval B24 battle plane during World War II. After his discharge in 1946, Ralph began his 30-year career at United Parcel Service as a driver/package delivery person, then as a station manager. As his career advanced, he joined the Industrial Engineering department, teaching these concepts to younger employees in Los Angeles until his retirement in 1976. During his career, he became very involved in the expansion of U.P.S. into a nationwide company, travelling from market to market, scouting for real estae, laying out driver's routes, and establishing the firm in the local area. He was instrumental in United Parcel becoming a nationwide service industry until his retirement in 1976. As a loyal "United Parcel guy", he began attending a local monthly breakfast with other UPS comrades and maintained contact with many others. They all remarked about "what a great guy" Ralph was. After retiring, Ralph enjoyed golfing, trips to Las Vegas, and he and Bonnie enjoyed 41 cruises in locations around the world, almost always with close friends. Ralph was the consummate "home handy man", taking care of projects, repairs and painting for his own home, as well as those of his daughter and other family members, and close friends. Ralph was a friend to everybody, and people remarked about his genial personality and jovial attitude. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Bonnie Jean, a daughter, Debra and her husband Dr. Denham Ward, and a granddaughter, Hannah V. Ward. Ralph will be dearly missed by family, friends and acquaintances, all of whom enjoyed his affection, thoughtfulness, jokes and laughter for years.