Ralph Walter Andrews

Ralph W. Andrews, 70, a 7 year Rock Island resident and former longtime East Wenatchee resident, passed away on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at Central Washington Hospital. He was born on August 30, 1942 at Seattle to the late Walter Lee and Ethel Anita (McGuire) Andrews. He was raised in Bellevue and attended Highland Elementary and Bellevue Christian School. He then attended Bellevue High School and graduated with the class of 1960. He met Sharon Jean Feilen while attending youth group at the Highland Covenant Church and they were later married on October 9, 1961 in Bellevue. Ralph went to work at Bel Air Chevrolet in Bellevue, starting as an apprentice. He began attending Seattle Community College Mechanic School, earning his Journeyman Mechanic Certification. He later advanced to Service Writer at Bel Air. They made a move to make their home in Woodinville. In 1963 he went to Corvair School in Tigard, OR and became a Corvair Repair Specialist. In 1964 they joined Tiger Mountain 4- Wheelers Jeep Club of Issaquah, WA. In 1965 they moved to Denton, Texas where he worked for Victor Equipment Company, a welding manufacturing and supply company. In 1969, they briefly moved to Pittsburg, PA before returning to work at Bel Air Chevrolet in Bellevue and making their home again in Woodinville. He accepted a job with Heath Engineering Company and they moved to Fort Collins, CO in 1971. Ralph was offered the opportunity to become partners with his brothers and buy out his parents business in Seattle which was Welding Equipment Company, so they returned to Woodinville in 1973. In 1979 they joined the Wenatchee Mountain Masters Jeep Club after moving to East Wenatchee in 1978. Ralph, along with a friend purchased "Pioneer Metal Works, Inc", in Quincy. He became the sole owner in 1982 and continued operating until semi retiring in the late 1990's to go RVing. Ralph and Sharon began living full time in their Safari Motor Home in 1996. They travelled extensively throughout all of the continental United States, Canada and Alaska. Some of the traveling was due to the fact that Ralph worked part-time for Blue Ox, first as a NW area rep., then vending at motor home rallies and then going around the country doing training at Blue Ox dealerships. In 2006, they purchased property in Rock Island to park their motor home on. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Gig Harbor, WA and the Eagles Lodge, Aerie # 204 in Wenatchee, WA. Ralph was the Executive Vice President of Safari International Motor Home Club and was a member of many other motor home clubs. He helped everyone he met with their motor homes, many people initially knew him by seeing his feet protruding from under a motor home. He designed, built and patented, "Tiger Trak" a track bar for Safari Motor Homes. Later he adapted Tiger Trak to gas model motor homes and supplying Blue Ox with this product to sell on the open market. He enjoyed one of the clubs projects, which was building homes for Habitat for Humanity. He loved cars and was a great mechanic. His passion for cars led him to owning over 80 cars including his 1965 Chevrolet El Camino and a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS, which he wanted to restore. He enjoyed the opportunity to have been chosen and work as a volunteer at Russo Steele Car Auctions in Scottsdale, AZ. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sharon J. Andrews, Rock Island, WA; three children and their spouses, Toni (Fred) Martin, Rock Island, WA, Tammy (Roy) Nichols, Galloway, OH and Jim (Beth) Andrews, Ellensburg, WA; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Ken & Pam Andrews, Bellevue, WA, Frank & Diane Andrews, Dryden, WA; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Lori & Darrel Dillon, Ferndale, WA, Ellen & Gale Putnam, Federal Way, WA; eight grandchildren, Ted and Sara Martin both of Rock Island, WA, Roy Nichols Jr., West Point, NE, Jeremy (Margeaux) Nichols, Galloway, OH, Lorena (Keith) Carlsgaard, Lemoore, CA, Kristen (Josh) Thompson, Sultan, WA, Kevin and Jake Andrews both of Ellensburg, WA; five great granddaughters, Cadence, Virginia and Skylar Carlsgaard, Alyia Nichols and Alyssa Thompson; three aunts and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. A Celebration Gathering will be held on Saturday, April 27th beginning at noon at their home in Rock Island, WA. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish may make memorial donations in his name to Hospice, 1020 N. Wenatchee, Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801. You are invited to visit his tribute online and leave a memory at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com . Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

Ralph Walter Andrews

August 30, 1942 - April 17, 2013