Ralph Elmer McGee Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ralph Elmer McGee. Ralph was born in Farmington, New Mexico, and passed away on February 23, 2022, at the age of 95, leaving to mourn family and friends. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Ralph Elmer McGee to pay them a last tribute.
Ralph, and Ellen, his wife of 74 years, were living in Buckeye, Arizona at the time of his death. Ralph met his wife in Mesa, Arizona while he was serving in the Army/Air Force and stationed at Williams Field, located South of Mesa Arizona. They were married by Ellen’s uncle, Jack Sanders, in Holbrook Arizona on February 26, 1948, after Ralph got out of the service. They moved to Winslow shortly after being married. Ralph was stationed in Japan as part of the occupation force at the end of World War II. While in Japan he was wounded by a phosphorus grenade tossed into the back of an open troop carrier he was riding in. He suffered for many years as a result of the phosphorus burns inflicted on his legs from the grenade attack.

Ralph and Ellen lived in northern Arizona for most of their adult lives.
He and Ellen operated Leupp Trading Post on the Navajo
Indian Reservation for over 20 years. After the Trading Post was closed in 1982,
Ralph and Ellen moved to Flagstaff, Arizona where they lived for several
years before moving back to the Winslow area. In 2012 they moved from
Winslow to Buckeye, Arizona to be closer to family and better medical care.

Ralph is survived by his wife Ellen and three children, Elmer, David,
and Tammy along with 7 grandchildren, 16 great- grandchildren
and 9 great–great grandchildren.

A graveside service with a military color guard will be held on Tuesday, March 8th, 2022, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona (Veteran's Cemetery) (23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85024).