Ralph Lee Coughran

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Ralph Lee Coughran, “RC”, on June 27, 2023, in Merced, CA.

Ralph was born in Bakersfield, CA on January 5, 1939 to Elbert and Ora (Scott) Coughran. As most farmboys of that era, Ralph could often be found working in the fields or goofing around with his brothers, Gene and Bill. Ralph quickly learned that if he was participating in sports, he could skip some of the field work. Thus began his lifelong love of sports, teamwork, and competition. He made a game out of everything and always wanted to win. Ralph graduated from Arvin High School in the summer of 1956 and promptly entered into military service. In the Navy, Ralph became an aviation mechanic specializing in jet engines. Given his experience growing up working on cars and tractors on the farm, this was a perfect fit. During his Navy years, he spent time aboard the Ranger, Intrepid, and Forestall aircraft carriers, and at duty stations up and down the east coast, including a stint in Cuba. He loved to tell tales of hitchhiking back home to Bakersfield when you could still do that sort of thing. Ralph was released from the Navy in December of 1959.

After his time in the Navy, Ralph headed back to Arvin and began attending Bakersfield College. He also began courting the love of his life, Joyce Webster. Ralph and Joyce were married on August 18, 1961. Big changes were coming their way in 1962, along with finishing his studies at Bakersfield College and preparing to transfer to Fresno State, Ralph and Joyce welcomed their first child, Russell, in May. While earning a degree in Industrial Arts from Fresno State College, Ralph worked with local youth for the city recreation department. He shared his love of sports, teamwork, and competition with the children, playing games and always trying to win. He found that he had a knack for working with children, and decided he would pursue a career in teaching and coaching upon graduation. As a starving college student with an infant at home, Ralph turned to fishing as a way to help feed his family - always trying to catch more fish than the guy next to him, or a bigger fish than the day before. He made a game out of it and always wanted to win.

In 1965 the young Coughran family moved to Livingston, Ca. Ralph began teaching Metal shop and Auto shop classes at the high school. He also had the privilege, and he truly believed it was a privilege, of coaching football and basketball, eventually working his way up to becoming the varsity basketball coach. Ralph tried to instill in his players and students a strong work ethic, the value of teamwork, and a sense of self worth. He wanted them to strive to be better in everything they did, every day. Practice, make it a game, try to win. Behind the scenes, Ralph was looking out for more than just his students’ academic well-being; he also made sure that their basic needs were met by providing meals, finding job opportunities, and keeping them warm throughout the winter. It brings his family great comfort when they meet, and hear stories from, the people he helped throughout the years. Thankfully there are many.

During the early years in Livingston, Ralph and Joyce welcomed two events that would have an impact on the rest of their lives. In April of 1968, their second son Kenneth was born, but more importantly, Ralph was introduced to the game of golf. Although Ralph loved his new son, golf was a sport he could play and compete in for the rest of his life. Once introduced to the game, Ralph worked very hard to become the best player he could; practicing every chance he had, always making a game out of it and always trying to win. He loved the game because there were no limits, if you worked hard you would get better. He enjoyed the fact that he could play the game with Joyce and they shared many rounds together over the years. He shared his love of the game with his children and grandchildren, and watching them give the game a try always put a smile on his face. After all of his hard work, Ralph was rewarded with the elusive hole in one in 2005, an honorary membership at Turlock Golf and Country Club in 2020, and for his 80th birthday, a trip to Scotland to play a round of links golf followed up with a pint.

Ralph could never shake the farmboy in him. In 1985, he and Joyce bought a little almond ranch in Atwater. It wasn’t a money making venture, but something to keep him occupied after his children moved away. The ranch was a place where he could give students odd jobs for pocket money, pass on some of his wisdom, and support the local economy. He really enjoyed farming because at the end of the day he could look around and see what he had accomplished. Teaching rarely gave him that obvious gratification.

Ralph retired from teaching, but not farming, in 1994 and Joyce followed a year later. They embarked on their RV years, and began annual trips circumnavigating the country several times over the next 10 years. He took great pride in the fact that he had visited all 50 states and a majority of Presidential Libraries, even the democratic ones. This also gave him the opportunity to spend more time with two of his grandchildren, Terrance and Mekayla (Russell), who were living on the east coast. He cherished those adventures, rarely traveling the same route more than once, always looking for something new. But, most importantly, he cherished the time spent with Joyce, the love of his life, right up to the end. The last couple of years were the toughest, but the only thing that concerned him was that Joyce would be okay.

His boys would tell you that he was a great father, but an even greater grandfather! He loved nothing more than watching his grandchildren, Terrance and Mekayla (Russell), and Madalyn and Ainslie (Kenneth), participate in their activities. He went to elementary concerts, swim meets, water-polo games, volleyball games, and golf matches. He always had encouraging words for the kiddos, and would challenge them to get better, by playing games and trying to win.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents Elbert and Ora Coughran and his brothers Gene and Bill.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 61 years Joyce, his two sons Russell (Cindee) Coughran and Kenneth (Chrissy) Coughran, and his four grandchildren: Terrance (IMane) Coughran, Mekayla (Robert) Martin, Madalyn Coughran, and Ainslie Coughran, and his sister Zeda Bertozzi.

Ralph will be laid to rest with military honors at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery on July 11, 2023.

Memorial donations can be made out to Ralph Coughran Memorial Scholarship and sent to Livingston High School, 1617 Main Street, Livingston, Ca 95334. Please put “Attention Bookkeeper” on the envelope. A donation basket will also be available at the reception following the ceremony.

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