Roll Call Tribute

Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Home obituary

CDR Ralph W. Stell, Jr. USN(Ret.)
Born in Corsicana, Texas on Sep. 23, 1922
Departed on Jan. 29, 2011 and resided in Kensington, MD.

Memorial Service:
Mar. 13, 2011
4:00 pm

Cemetery:
United States Naval Academy

Cdr. Ralph Waltman Stell, Jr. USN (Ret.), died on January 29, 2011 in Kensington, Md. He was born in Corsicana, Texas, on September 23, 1922. After graduation from high school in 1940, he attended Texas A&M University one year before receiving an appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy class of 1945. After graduation in 1944 he was assigned to the U.S.S. Boise (CL-47) and served as Turret Officer. While aboard, the ship participated in the battle of Lingayen Gulf. Later the ship embarked General MacArthur and staff for a tour of the Philippine Islands. Ralph's next assignment was primary flight training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Dallas. He received his wings at Pensacola in February, 1947, and was assigned to carrier squadron Bombing Three based in Rhode Island and later aboard U.S.S. Kearsarge for a Mediterranean cruise. Duty on Basic Training Staff and instrument instructor at Pensacola followed. At the outbreak of the Korean War he and Bob Wood flew a Beechcraft loaded with Communications Personnel from Pensacola to San Francisco to augment Pacific theater staffs.

Ralph's next assignment was as Flag Lieutenant to COMFAIR Japan at NAS Atsugi. Upon completion of this duty, he joined Squadron 193 at NAS Moffitt Field, Calif. in training for deployment to West PAC on U.S.S. Oriskany. Al Shepard and Bill Lawrence were squadron mates. Upon return Ralph married Katharine Parker and reported for duty at the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, Calif. Naval War College, Naval Staff London, and Comm Naval Air Staff Atlantic followed.

After retiring in March, 1965, he worked for Vitro Corp. and Special Warfare Laboratory (organized by USNA classmate Bob Eidson). During his final retirement he was for 23 years a volunteer in the Archives Division of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Ralph was a member of Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church of Kensington, Md., for 44 years, where he sang in the choir and served terms as deacon and elder

Ralph is survived by his beloved wife Kathy, daughter Laura Stell and her partner Russell Greco, son Ralph Benjamin Stell and his fiancée Julie Stanek, and daughter Elizabeth Stell and her husband Bill Matthiesen, also granddaughters Marianna and Rebecca Stell.
Beloved husband of Katharine P. Stell of 56 years. Loving father of Laura, Ralph and Elizabeth Stell. Cherished grandfather of Marianna and Rebecca Stell. Brother of Betty Sullivan and her husband, Bruce.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be in his honor to Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church, 10123 Connecticut Ave., Kensington, MD 20895 or U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, 25 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401.