Ralph W. Andres

Sept. 10, 1924 - Nov. 10, 2019

Ralph W. Andres, 95, of Rockford, Ill., passed away on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. He was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on Sept. 10, 1924, son of Frederick and Lula (Bopp) Andres. Survived by his son Wayne, Rockford, and daughter Dyanne Willow, Loveland, Colo.,, grandchildren, Dr. Kara Gendron, Portland, Ore., and Andrew Gendron, Denver, grandchildren Paul Andres, Kristina and Cassandra; great-grandchildren Nathan, Gabrielle, Devyn, Nalani and Mayah Andres. Predeceased by his wife, Christy, in April 2019, parents, son Glenn, and siblings Betty Cooper, Doris Brandt and Dale Andres. He was a WWII veteran serving in the Army Air Corps, and attended meteorology school at Carleton College, Northfield, Minn. He then served at a glider training field in Lubbock, Texas, and later at a bombardier training field at San Angelo, Texas. Ralph graduated from Iowa University in 1949 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was a member of Pi Tau Sigma Honorary Society. He married Christy (Eleanor) Christensen in June 1948 in Glencoe, Ill. They moved to Rockford in 1949, where he worked for Barber-Colman Co. and became supervisor of application engineers in the textile division. He retired from Barber-Colman in 1989. He was a member of American Legion Post 1207 in Rockford.