St. George, UT - Ralph Stanley Erskine, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully on December 10, 2011 at the age of 91. He was born August 3, 1920; Salt Lake City, Utah to Ralph Samuel and Verlie Irene Gleason Erskine the first of two children. Ralph grew up in the Salt Lake City area, graduating From South High School. While in high school he joined the sea scouts and later joined the Navy at age 17. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII . He was assigned to the aviation branch of the Navy and worked his way up to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was proud of his military service and made many dear and life long friends.

While stationed at the Naval Air Station in Seattle he met his wife Harriet Jean Shillander, and they were married on September 12, 1941, and later they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Ralph and Harriet celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in September of 2011.

During his life he spent 17 years going to college at night where he obtained a M.S. Degree. Ralph held many interesting positions during his career life, he worked on the Minuteman, and Titan missiles, and the Saturn space program. He worked as program manager for the construction of an oil loading dock in the Persian Gulf, on Kharg Island, Iran and worked on the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island

Ralph was a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served in many positions including High Priest Group Leader, Counselor in the Bishopric and many callings in the church and he was a faithful Home Teacher. He loved the Lord and could bring any subject in conversation back to the gospel and missionary work. He and his wife Harriet enjoyed a mission to the Navajo reservation in Montezuma Creek, Utah. They served many other missions together the last one being ordinances workers in the St. George Temple for ten years.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Harriet: children; Karen Brown of St. George, Lynn (Bryan)Burt of Atlanta, Georgia, Scott (Connie) of Bountiful, Utah, Gregg (Kelly) of Sandy, Utah, Jerry (Suzanne) of Punta Gorda, Florida, Jeannie (Randy) Childs of Sandy, Utah. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John; and grandson, Garrison Childs.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at Zion's Way Hospices and Ridgeview Gardens Assisted Living for the tender loving and dignified manner in which they cared for Dad in the final weeks.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah, with a visitation held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will follow at the St. George City Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.