Ralph Woodrow Searfoss

MAr 4, 1918 - Jun 25, 2007

Former Simi Valley resident Ralph Searfoss passed away June 25, 2007, in Spokane, Wash. Ralph was born in Rock Island, Ill., on March 4, 1918. He grew up in South Bend, Ind., the oldest of two brothers and one sister. When he was a boy he worked many jobs, one as shoeshine boy in the local barber shop. During World War II, he enlisted in the Army and Air Corps and was trained as an airplane mechanic. He was stationed in Italy during the invasion of Normandy and his plane "Shack Happy" can be seen on the Internet with him and the other mechanics who worked on the B-24 bombers.

After the war Ralph returned to South Bend and married Mary VanScoyk, the true love of his life. He told Mary he was going to California and if she married him that's where they were to make their home. He said he had had enough of shoveling snow. They moved to Southern California in 1947 so that Ralph could attend Barber College. He had his own shop on Van Owen Street, in the San Fernando Valley. He took other classes over the years and became a men's hair stylist. Mr. Searfoss went to work for the post office and retired in 1987.

Ralph and Mary were married for 54 years when Mary passed away in 2001. They took many wonderful vacations to Hawaii and around the United States.

They are survived by their three daughters, Marilynn Launer, Sylvia Rupert and Darlene Davila. Ralph and Mary had six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild.

Ralph was a member of the Masonic Lodge in South Bend, Ind., for over 50 years. He was a good father, an honest man, a loyal friend and a loving husband. Ralph would joke that the only medication he took was a good cigar and a scotch and water. He also took tons of vitamins.

There will be a veteran's service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4 at the Simi Valley Pioneer Public Cemetery, 1461 Thompson Lane, followed by a memorial service at his previous home in Simi Valley.

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

08/31/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73766316/ralph-woodrow-searfoss