RALPH FINLEY

Name: RALPH FINLEY

Entry Date: 43

Exit Date: 45

Rating:

Status: D: 03/04/2008

“EAST LIVERPOOL – Ralph A. Finley of Eagle Drive died at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday May 20, 2008, at the East Liverpool City Hospital, where he had been a patient since Tuesday. He was 85. Having lived in East Liverpool most of his life, where he was born Feb. 16, 1923, a son of the late Ralph and Hannah Finley, he also resided in Scottsdale, Ariz., from 1985 to 2005. A long-time member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in East Liverpool he had belonged to St. Barnabas-on-the-Desert Episcopal Church when in Arizona. A 1940 graduate of East Liverpool High School, he then attended Western Reserve University where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity, prior to serving as a naval aviator in the South Pacific for the

U.S. Navy. His military career began with 18 months of training, which saw him commissioned an officer, eventually rising from the rank of ensign to that of lieutenant. He became the first pilot of a PB4Y-2 Privateer attack bomber, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, four air medals and a personal commendation ribbon. A licensed commercial pilot with single-and multi-engine land and sea ratings, he was instrument-flight licensed. He was noted for having once looped the Chester Bridge in a sea plane following World War II. Active in all phases of community life from radio announcing, parking enforcer, tour director, and his ability to gain entrance to any event, to being a counselor at the Pine Ridge YMCA Camp, Mr. Finley knew no strangers. In addition, he organized the Better Business Bureau in East Liverpool and was a member of the East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce for many years. He was a former member and president of the East Liverpool Merchants Association and was a recipient of the East Liverpool Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award, in addition to holding a Life Membership in the organization in which he had served as president and treasurer. He had served for many years as a trustee or board member for several organizations including the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Eastern Ohio, the USO National Council, the Salvation Army Advisory Board in East Liverpool, and the East Liverpool City Hospital Association. He was chairman of the Columbiana County Veterans for Dwight D. Eisenhower in his election campaign for President of the United States, and a former president of East Liverpool

Rotary.He also was active in fund drives for East Liverpool Hospital Association, the Community Fund, (now the United Way) and the Red Cross. Following World War II he became affiliated with The Smith & Phillips Co,, rising to secretary-treasurer before retiring from that position with the furniture company in 1969 with 23 years service. He was known for developing a friendly consumer credit system at the store, which served as a business model for years to come. In 1958, he became associated with Bayley Envelope, Inc. serving as secretary-treasurer from 1969 to 1979 and as president from 1979 to 1985. A former president of the Tri-State Umpires Association, he served as president of that group for 22 years. He conducted countless baseball clinics and was actively involved in Tri-State Baseball as an umpire from youth baseball leagues to high school, American Legion and college. He had officiated some 4,000 baseball games.

His family includes his loving wife, at home, Wilma Hindley Finley. They were married June 16, 1944. There are two daughters, Jill Altoft and her husband, William, of Moon Township, Pa., and Diana Jarvis and her husband, Paul, of Bayfield, Colo. There are five grandchildren: Kristen Dugan and her husband, Jeremy; Christopher Kirkham and his wife, Emily; Susan Rummer; Patrick Kirkham and his wife, Andrea; and Scott Kirkham and his wife, Amy. Also surviving are five great-grandchildren: Gavin Kirkham, Madison Rummer, Oliver Kirkham, Ryan Dugan and Adia Kirkham. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Suzanne F. Rugh, and two brothers, John Finley and William Finley.”