Ralph M. Fry, age 92, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2026, at 2:30 a.m. He was born on November 17, 1933, to Fred H. and Virginia S. Fry in Great Bend, Kansas.

Ralph was a Kansas farm boy who grew up loving to hunt and fish with his dad and playing sports throughout high school and college. He attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, where he excelled in athletics, especially football and basketball. He was honored as a member of the Kansas All-Star Basketball Team for three consecutive years and graduated from Bethany College in 1956. In 2015, he was honored with an athletic award and inducted into the Bethany College Hall of Honor.

In 1957, Ralph married his college sweetheart, Carol Timme. Together, they shared 69 wonderful years of marriage. They raised two children, Laurie Fry-Bailey and Brian Fry, and were blessed with five grandchildren--Andrew, Justin, Catie, Lindsay and Leigha--and three great-granddaughters--Ava, Charlotte and Abigail.

Following college, Ralph was drafted into the United States Army. He completed basic training at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, and was then stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. It was there that Ralph and Carol chose to make their home and raise their family. After completing two years of active service, Ralph continued his military service in the Army Reserves for another six years before receiving an honorable discharge.

Ralph then began a long and successful career in the business world. He started at Puget Sound National Bank, where he worked for three years, before joining Aetna Life Insurance Company as a training agent in Advanced Underwriting, specializing in pension and group insurance. He was later recruited by Northern Life Insurance Company in Seattle, where he spent many years as the Northwest Regional Manager for five states, again working in advanced underwriting, employee benefits and estate planning.

Ralph was held in high esteem by his clients and coworkers. He was an honest, straightforward man whose strong work ethic, knowledge, integrity and genuine friendship earned the trust and respect of everyone who worked with him. In 1985, Ralph started his own business, providing insurance, securities and pension services to his clients. He operated his business until 1996, when he and Carol retired.

Retirement gave Ralph and Carol more time to enjoy the things they loved most. Ralph was an avid outdoorsman who loved camping, boating on the waters of Puget Sound, and fishing the beautiful rivers and streams of Washington with his family. He enjoyed hunting and playing golf with his buddies, and traveling with his family to Hawaii, Canada and throughout the United States. Each summer, they looked forward to returning to the Midwest for family reunions.

Ralph was also a skilled carpenter and craftsman. He taught his children how to use tools and encouraged them to be creative, resourceful and confident enough to build or fix just about anything. That same spirit of encouragement carried into every part of his family life. Ralph supported his children and grandchildren in all of their endeavors and athletic events and was their number-one cheerleader. He was immensely proud of his family, and they knew without a doubt how much he loved them.

Ralph and Carol were active members of the Tacoma Yacht Club for many years, where they enjoyed boating, fishing and cruising the waters of Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands aboard their 42-foot Matthews, the Endeavor. They also owned the 48-foot charter salmon fishing boat Bonanza, operated out of Westport, Washington, and the 40-foot pleasure-cruising charter boat Runaway, operated out of Anacortes.

Ralph and Carol were also part of the Puget Sound Fly Fishing Club community, where Ralph served as treasurer for four years. They enjoyed camping and fishing with their fellow members and treasured the friendships they made along the way. Ralph also served on the Seaview Terrace II Homeowners Board many times throughout the years and remained active in his community, including supporting youth soccer.

Ralph's life was defined by loyalty, integrity, hard work, adventure and, above all, family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend and mentor. He loved being outdoors, working with his hands, cheering on his family and sharing life with the people he cared about.

Ralph is survived by his beloved wife, Carol; his children, Laurie Fry-Bailey and Brian Fry; his grandchildren, Andrew, Justin, Catie, Lindsay and Leigha; and his great-granddaughters, Ava, Charlotte and Abigail. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Barb Berner, and his three nephews, David, Steve and Scott.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Virginia Fry; his brother, Fred Hubert Fry; and many aunts and uncles.

Family and friends meant the world to Ralph, and he meant the world to them. He leaves behind a lifetime of memories, lessons, laughter and love. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him, but his love for his family and the example he set will live on through the generations.