Memorial

Buford “Ralph” Spalding, 94, of Cedar Rapids, passed away March 1, 2016 at his home.

A funeral service will be held at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, on Friday, March 4, 2016 at 3pm.  Visitation will be on Friday, March 4, 2016 from 2-3pm.  Burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery following the service.  Military rites will be done by the Cedar Rapids VFW Post #788 and also by the US Navy.

Ralph was born on September 11, 1921 to LeRoy and Ruby Spalding in Marion, Kentucky.  Ralph joined the Navy in 1939 and served in World War II and he was at Pearl Harbor on the USS California.  He married Margaret Smith on December 1, 1943.  He worked at Hometown Dairy as a mechanic in Iowa City for many years.


Ralph is survived by his two sons, Steve and Tom both of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren Jennifer (Mike) Williams, Carrie Anne (Tom) Stone, and Daniel (Miranda) Spalding; seven great-grandchildren Jeffery, Shaun, and Cameren (Thyana) Williams, Christopher (Bailey) and Nicolas Stone, Dilian and Carly Spalding; great-great-grandchildren Izic Ray Williams and Blair Stone; siblings Clem, Robert, and Frank Spalding, Nelda Cruise and Anna Spalding.

Ralph was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Margaret, his parents, his brother Boyd Spalding and his brother-in-law Leonard Smith, Jr.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Breast Cancer Association in Margaret and Ralph’s name.