QUINLAN   RATLIFF   REEDER   REYES   RICHARDS   RIECKE   RILEY   RINEY   RIOPEL   ROBINSON   ROCKEL   RODRIGUEZ   ROOT   ROSTEN   ROUSSEAU   ROY   RUANE   RUNNINGER   RUNYON   RUSSELL   SAGOR   SAIKKONEN   SALEM   SANDUSKY   SANTOS   SAUNDERS   SCARFF   SCHAETZLE   SCHATTE   SCHOECK   SCHUMACHER   SCHUMAN   SCOTT   SEALY   SEAMAN   SEVERNS   SHACKLEFORD   SHARPE   SHEA   SHER0W   SHOBERT   SHUMOSKY   SILVA   SLATTERY   SMALLWOOD   SMITH, KENDALL   SMITH, MARK   SMITH, SAMUEL   SMITH, WINIFRED   SMITHAM   SNIDER   SOLARI   SORRENTINO   SOUTHWORTH   SPARKS   STEIN   STEPHENS   STEPHENSON   STEVENS   STOVER   STRINGER   STURGES   SUMMERHILL   SWINDELLS   SWORD   TACKAS   TASSIE   TATSCH   TAUZIN   TAYLOR   THOMAS, DAVID   THOMAS, WILLIAM   THOMPSON   THORBURN   THORSON   TORRES   TOUCHETTE   TOVAR   TRAVIS   TREAGER   TRUITT   VALLIMONT   VARGAS   VAUGHN   VIGARE   VOAS   VON PHUL   WALDECK   WALLS   WALT   WARREN   WASHINGTON   WATERS   WEBB   WEILAND   WEIMER   WELK   WERBER   WEST   WHITE, EUGENE   WHITE, SAWYER   WHITNEY   WILLIAMS   WILSON, HERNAND   BLANK   WINSLOW   WITHINGTON   WOMACK   WOOD, CARL   WOOD, WENDELL   WOODSON   WOODWARD   WOOLVERTON   WOTEN   WURZBURG   YEAST   YESTNESS   YONTECK   YORK   YOUNG, KELLY   ZDENEK   ZEHNDER   ZERBE  


RALPH STEPHEN WALDECK

Final Flight on May 11, 2015




Ralph Stephen Waldeck

~1947 - May 11, 2015



Steve passed away at home in Woodland, CA. May 14, 2015. He was born to Ralph and Dorothy Cranston Waldeck in 1947 in Woodland.

 

While at Woodland High School, Steve played basketball (a team captain); track and field where he won the Jay Sehorn Award for pole-vaulting. He was a quarterback at the first football game for the league championship against arch-rival Davis. Steve was amazed when he looked out at the crowd from the field, and remembered a "sea of orange" in the stands. Attendance for this game was estimated at 5,500. The Wolves beat the Blue Devils: 35 to 7.

 

During high school, Steve loved working at Cranston Bros for his favorite uncle, Eldon Cranston. They had the same personality and could make each other "crack up" by just glancing at each other.

 

Steve graduated from Chico State College, with Bachelor degrees in Science and Art and earned an MBA from Central Michigan University.

 

After college he joined the US Air Force in 1970 and received a regular commission in 1973. He flew helicopters for 11 years and piloted: Hughes 300, Bell H-12, Bell UH-1 and instructor-pilot on the CH-3 (Jolly Green Giant).

 

Steve's last 3 years of active duty assignment was with the 1st Helicopter Squadron of the United States Air Force based in Washington, D.C. His Squadron was charged with flying the Executive Branch, members of the Cabinet and foreign dignitaries. After resigning his commission in 1978, at the rank of Captain, he returned to California and continued flying helicopters with the Air Force Reserve, assigned to the 129th Air Rescue Squadron out of Hayward, CA until 1981.

 

Steve taught Business Management courses at Woodland Center of Yuba College, and began his tax preparation business as an Enrolled Agent in Woodland.

 

Steve was a member of Woodland Lodge #81 Free & Accepted Masons and was elected Master of the lodge in 1995 and served as Treasurer since 1996, joined the Ben Ali Shriners and served as president of the Yolo Shrine. Steve was chairman "by acclamation" of refreshments for all parades that the Yolo Shrine participated.

 

He served as Treasurer to American Legion Woodland Post #77 and chairman of the Legion's County Fair Parking concession at Woodland Mall. Steve acted as spotter/announcer for the Woodland High School football home games since 2001.

 

Steve drove a bright red Smart Car, and bragged that he had to fill the gas tank regularly once or twice a year. Steve loved JoAnn, family, his co-workers, his work and sitting on the deck at Shasta Retreat.

 

He is survived by his sweetheart of 32 years, JoAnn Wright. His children, Stephen B. Waldeck (Erika), Amanda Waldeck, Kelli Palmer (Frank) and Kyndell Wright-Hobson, and grandchildren: Nicole Waldeck and Stephen W. Waldeck, Madeline and Bryson Palmer and Korryn Hobson.

 

Steve is also survived by his brothers and sister, Gary Waldeck (Barbara); John Waldeck (Monica); Connie Beard (Bernard Hendrix); nephews, Nicholas Beard; Schuyler Waldeck-Myers, and Scott Waldeck; nieces, Karen Murvin; Kathy Chudakoff; and Mallory Waldeck; and was predeceased by his parents, sister, Joan Waldeck, brother-in-law Wallace (Larry) Beard, nephews Kenneth Waldeck and Christopher Beard.

 

Memorials may be made to; Shriners Hospital for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607 or through their website:

www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/donate or to a charity of the donor's choice.

 

A memorial service is planned for Thursday May 28, 2015 at the Rotary Park in the Yolo County Fairgrounds from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.



GUEST BOOK



May 20, 2015

I worked with Steve at Collier Hardware in Chico while we both attended Chico State College in the late 1960's. Steve was well-liked by everyone, we will always remember him, and we mourn his passing.

~

John Gallardo, Chico


May 20, 2015

Steve, you were truly one of a kind. You always managed to make me smile. I can't recall a time I ever saw you in a bad mood. The Lord will be getting his biggest tax refund next year now that you are on the job! You will be missed greatly.

Jared Ford, Woodland, CA




       



"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE"

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