Ralph Fearnow

Ralph Eugene Fearnow, 91, of Idaho Falls, passed away August 1, 2012, at Life Care Center of Idaho Falls. Ralph was born February 7, 1921, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the first of two sons born to John Henry Fearnow and Blanche Marie Adams Fearnow. A short while later, the family moved to a tract of land near the city where he grew up – on what became a dairy farm. Ralph spent the depression years attending the Putnam City School in the Oklahoma City Consolidated District No. 1 school system, graduating in 1939. As a part-time student, he spent the World War II years at the University of Oklahoma, working in the Physics Department Instrument Development Shop. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics in 1947. On March 27, 1943, Ralph married Betty Lou Wilson in Hinton, Oklahoma. They adopted two children, Tom and Judy. They had been married 68 years when Betty passed away September 26, 2011. Ralph became a member of The Boy Scouts of America in 1933 at the age of 12. He attended the first Boy Scout National Jamboree in 1937. He became an Eagle Scout, was a member of the University Alpha Phi Omega Boy Scout service fraternity, was a Scoutmaster for ten years, and received the Silver Beaver Award in 1966. About 1960, Ralph “graduated” into the Girls Scouts of America, and pursued a long-time interest in the management and development of camping facilities and programs for girls. He received the Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II Awards. He was a devoted believer in youth development through the camping experience. In December, 1950, Ralph accepted a position with Phillips Petroleum Company. Following training in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, he and his family were moved to Idaho Falls, where Ralph worked for Phillips under the AEC contract to operate the Materials Testing Reactor at the National Reactor Testing Station at the INL. He worked as instrument shop developer and supervisor, safety engineer, and project engineer, and retired as a nuclear engineer in 1991. In 1972 he acquired an Idaho Professional Engineers certification in Mechanical Engineering, was active in the Idaho and National Societies of Professional Engineers, and retired as a professional engineer in 1998. Ralph is survived by Daughter, Judith Ann (Kay) Johnson of Idaho Falls, ID; Two Grandchildren, Paula A. Johnson and Joshua K. Johnson, and three Great Grandchildren, Shawn M. Campbell, Tyler G. Ellis, and Kaylie Ann Ellis. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Betty Lou, son, Thomas Eugene Fearnow, brother, Jerry William Fearnow, and granddaughter, Charlene Michelle Hitz Empey. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 4, 2012, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road. The family will visit with friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., both at Wood East Side. Burial will be in the Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery.

Funeral Services -- Saturday

11:00 a.m. ,Saturday, August 4, 2012 Wood Funeral Home East Side 963 South Ammon Road Idaho Falls, ID 83406 Notes: The family will visit with friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., both at Wood East Side. Burial will be in the Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery.