He was born Oct. 31,2006 in Washington,KS. the son of Arnold and Gertrude Penney Fuhrken. He married Willa M. Greenan in 1947 at First United Methodist Church in Clarinda,IA.
Mr. Fuhrken wasa a graduate of Kansas State University and was an Alumni of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
Ralph was a veteran of World War II, where he served three years in the South Pacific Theatre with the 25th Lightning Infantry and was a member of the Division Band.
Ralph was a High School Instrumental Band Director for 10 years in the Kansas School Systems and served on the Band Directors Association for the State of Kansas.
Later Ralph came to Springfield to become co-owner of Prairie Wholesale Supply Company for thirty years. He also served many yeras on the Board of Regional Building Wholesalers.
Ralph was a member of First United Methodist Church where he was a member and past president of the IBT Sunday School Class.
Ralph served on the Executive Board of Washington Street Mission; Springfield Community Concert Association, was a counselor and 2005 recipient of the "Distinguished Service Award" for SCORE. He was a member of Frontier Masonic Lodge of Washington,KS., Springfield Scottish Rite Consistory, Ansar Shrine, AAONMS, Shrine Retirees Club,former member of the Shrine Band, Panther Creek Country Club and American Legion Post #32.
He is survived by his wife, Willa; so0n, Ronald(wife,Janet) Fuhrken of Kansas City,MO.; daughters, Sandra(husband,Wayne) Caster of Ponte Verde Beach, FL. and Trudy Stutzman of Orlando,FL.; five grandchildren, Ryan (wife,Kirsten) Caster, Jessica( husband, Ben) Amel, Patricia (husband, Edward)Genao, Angela Fuhrken and Ashley Stutzman and four great grandchildren, Ethan and Addison Caster, Jameson Amel and Gloria Genao.
Friends may call Friday fron 5 to 7:00pm at Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel. Services will be held 10:00 AM Saturday Dec. 23, 2006 at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Roger K. Rominger officiating. Private interment will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Childrens Hospitals.
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