Ralph Victor HEINO Sr. Born May 2, 1917 in Butte Montana to Victor and Lydia Heino and passed away July 26, 2008. Ralph moved with his parents to Aberdeen, Washington and graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1935. Ralph attended Grays Harbor Community College and moved to Seattle attending the University of Washington. He also attended Cornish College of the Arts studying for a professional music career as a violinist. In World War II, Ralph saw service in the U.S. Army Air Force and was stationed in California and San Antonio, Texas.

It is there that he met Eleanor Luetcke and they married in 1943. After the war ended Ralph joined the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra. Ralph and Eleanor returned to Seattle where he joined the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Ralph also worked as a longshoreman starting in 1957. Ralph was passionate about the arts. He was a composer as well as a performing violinist. The Seattle Symphony performed one of his works on a tour of Alaska. Ralph was also a painter influenced by the Northwest School of Painters in the 1950s and exhibited his work around the greater Seattle area.

He had notebooks filled with his poetry. He also loved to work with wood sculpture. Nature was another of his passions and he hiked and camped for years all over the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. He also loved to fish with catching steelhead on flies the ultimate experience.

Ralph is preceded in death by his most loved wife Eleanor who passed away in 1995. He is survived by his loving family who will miss him very much. Son Ralph Heino, Jr. and his wife Linda Yeates, Grandson Erik Heino and his wife Katheryn Tewson, Granddaughter Kaari Misclevitz and her husband Joe and Step-Grandson Jeffrey Yeates. Four Great Grandchildren; Caleb, Grace, Lucas and Lillian. Ralph's legacy of creative energy, passion for life and a deep love has become so much a part of each one of our lives. His life made a great difference in so many lives, including all of his beloved cats!

By Arla Shepard