Ralph Castleton Walgren

Ralph Castleton Walgren, our wonderful 100-year-old father died May 5, 2025, in Bountiful, Utah, from natural causes and living exactly one week shy of 101 years. He is the middle child of three, born May 12, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Paul Hansen and Irma Castleton Walgren. We know he is elated to be joined again with his eternal sweetheart, Wilma Hawkins Walgren, who he married in the Salt Lake Temple on October 24, 1945. They spent 71 years together before her passing on October 21, 2016.

Ralph’s posterity includes son Kent Logan Walgren (deceased), daughter Mary Ann Snowball (David J.), daughter Peggy Showalter (Donald L. III), 13 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren, with more on the way. He is preceded in death by parents, brother Paul H. Walgren, sister Shirley W. McClure, son Kent, and grandson Mark W. Snowball.

Ralph grew up in Sugarhouse, graduating from South High School in 1942. He lived most of his life in Salt Lake City, but also resided in Eugene, Oregon, Saratoga, California, and St. George, Utah during his adult life. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor during his senior year of high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy (Air) where he served for nearly three years in World War II. The war instilled in him an extreme patriotism for the country he loved. He attended Northwestern State College of Louisiana, Saint Mary’s College California (U.S. Navy), and the University of Utah where he graduated in 1948 with a degree in Communications and Business.

He was hired by Burroughs Corporation (later Unisys) where he worked in Utah, Oregon, and California in various marketing and management positions for over 30 years. The last nine years of his career he served as the Financial Administrator in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah, retiring in 1988. He also served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Sunday School Superintendent, Branch Presidency, Bishopric, High Counselor, Stake Presidency Member, and companion to Wilma on a Senior Mission in St. George, Utah.

The passion of his life was his beloved wife, Wilma, who he met at age 13. He also loved his family, jokes, traveling, woodworking, golf, crossword puzzles, family history and reading history and biographies. We will miss his ever-ready smiles and jokes, his amazing memory and keen intellect, his opinions and always-practical advice, and his earned humility. His testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ guided his life.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, May 10 at 11:00 am. Viewing and visitation will begin at 10:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1190 E. Bountiful Hills Drive in Bountiful, Utah. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

We offer a special thank you to Beverly Seal who became a friend to Ralph during good times and bad, and who danced with him at his 100th birthday party. Also, a special thanks to friends at Legacy Retirement in South Jordan, Welcome Home and especially Oak Ridge Assisted Living in Bountiful, Utah for their friendship and care.

Thank you also to Independent Funeral Service and the US Navy and American Legion for military honors at the graveside service.

Ralph’s last words to all of us would be: “Have a happy life . . . and see you later.”

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