Ralph Franklin Blacketer

Ralph Franklin Blacketer was born on 17 March, 1895, in Galt, Missouri, son of Frank and Flora Tabitha Blacketer.  He attended Braymer High School in Braymer, MO, graduating on 15 May, 1914.

He registered for service at the age of 22 on 7 June, 1917, in Kansas City, MO.  He was single and listed his occupation as a bank teller at Trader’s National Bank on Eleventh and Grand in Kansas City.

Ralph departed for France on 14 August, 1918, as an acting Sergeant, QMCNA, as part of the Field Remount Squadron #314, N.A. out of Newport News, VA.  In September 1918, he was stationed in Gievres, A.P.O. 713.  He would write to his brother, Roy, from France.

Sgt. Blacketer departed from Brest, France on 3 November, 1919, aboard the U.S.S. Northern Pacific on his was to Camp Dix by way of Hoboken, NJ.

He married Cleo Brakebill of Kansas City, on 27 October, 1926, at the home of Cleo’ sister, Mrs. T. L.  Douglass.  Immediately after, they resided in Braymer, MO.  They had a daughter, Suzanne, born 28 May, 1928.  He relocated from Oklahoma to Kansas around 1930 to 1941, then he and his family returned to Oklahoma until 1947.  They later relocated to the Los Angeles area.  They again relocated back to Oklahoma City, where he lived until his passing on 23 June, 1979, at the age of 84.  He now rests in the Rose Hill Burial Park in Oklahoma City.

Ralph was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Cathedral Masonic Lodge No. 445 AF & AM, Hutchinson, KS; the Scottish Rite and Shrine in Guthrie, OK, and a member of American Legion Posts #35, #40 st 8 and #68, Lyle Rishel.

Soft and safe, my brother, be thy resting place.  Bright and glorious by thy rising from it.

Lest we forget…