Ralph Charles Jordan

Jordan, Ralph Charles Ralph Charles Jordan, died March 14, 2012. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years Gladys. He leaves behind his children, Karen Hannaway and husband Patrick, Jim Jordan and wife Beth, Bob Jordan and wife Sharron, Bill Jordan and wife Terrie; nine grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister Margarete Viles along with many nieces and nephews. Ralph was born in Slaton, Texas in 1920. His family moved to Mentmore when Ralph was a small child. He rode the school bus to Gallup and has always told the tale of saving a seat on the bus for Gladys every day. Ralph worked for Clark��?�s Dairy, Gallup Oil Company and Navajo Tribal Sawmill as a truck driver. He felt honored to be given a Navajo name by his friends working for the sawmill. The English translation is "always laughing. He retired from Navajo Pine and started Jordan Gravel and Trucking Company. He eventually sold his equipment to Vernon Hamilton and continued to drive for Vernon until he was 74 years old. Ralph was a Veteran of WWII. He joined the Navy near the beginning of the war and served in the Sea Bees earning the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was attached to a Marine Division and was involved in battles in the Pacific, building forward air strips on a number of islands. Ralph was very proud to be a Sea Bee. When asked what branch of the service he was in, he always said, I was a Sea Bee confusing people that didn��?�t know that the Sea Bees were Navy. He was among the first men that chose to be in the construction battalion of the US Navy when it was formed at the beginning of WWll. Ralph led a very interesting and diversified life. As a young man, he worked with his Brother Rex as a brick mason, they built major projects such as the New Mexico Military Institute buildings in Roswell. He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved camping and fishing with the family, hunting with his boys, taking Sunday drives to McGaffey for picnics and to see the wildlife. He was proud to be a volunteer fireman, he retired from the Gallup Volunteer Fire Department in 1968. He belonged to the Elks Club, Lions Club, Cooties, and New Mexico Mounted Patrol. He retired as Capitan of the New Mexico Mounted Patrol, District 6 in 1972. Ralph and Gladys loved to dance. In their younger days they attended many dances at McGaffey in the school house at Page. They liked to square dance. Ralph and Gladys wore matching costumes and he made sure everyone knew that Gladys had made them. He later became a square dance caller. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations be made in memory of Ralph Jordan to the New Mexico Healthcare System, 1501 San Pedro Blvd. SE, Voluntary Services 135,Veteran's needs, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Ralph 's care has been entrusted to:
Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87109
505-821-0010