Ralph Darrel Sterba, of Tualatin, March 27, 1937 – Aug. 9, 2026.
Born to Charles and Irene (Smock) Sterba in Topeka, Kansas. The family moved to Oregon when Ralph was 7 or 8 years old and settled on their farm in Kings Valley. He attended school in both Philomath and Corvallis.
He married Geraldine McBride Moore in Philomath in June 1958, and they settled in Philomath to raise their family. In 1979 they divorced, and Ralph later made Albany his home. He moved to Tualatin four years ago.
Ralph worked at Philomath Hardware and later at Mid-Willamette Lumber (Peak Lumber) as a forklift operator, and he also hauled scrap iron. He was a jack of all trades — carpentry, welding and more — and if something couldn’t be fixed, he knew someone who could.
Ralph loved trapshooting. He belonged to the Albany Gun Club for close to 65 years. He restored a 1939 Model L John Deere tractor and proudly showed it off at several tractor shows and two-cylinder club events. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles for 60 years.
He was a gentle and kind man who loved domestic animals, wildlife and Mother Nature’s beautiful scenery.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles in 1982 and Irene in 2003; his older brother, Bob, in 2016; and his companion of 12 years, Kathy Roll, in 2022.
Ralph is survived by his children, daughter Karen (Sterba) Warren of Tualatin and son Kevin (and Bea) Sterba of Lakeview, Oregon; three grandsons, Rob Warren of Albany and Keenan and Kyler Sterba, both currently of Idaho; and two nieces and two nephews in Illinois.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Albany Trap Club or Safehaven Humane Society.
There will be no graveside services — Ralph’s ashes will be laid to rest at the site of his parents’ graves at Mount Union Cemetery in Philomath.
A Celebration of Life luncheon will be held Sept. 20 at noon at the Albany Trap Club on Highway 20.