Ralph E. Mcconnell

41-year member of National Guard was mill operator. Ralph E. McConnell, 74, of Washington, died Thursday, August 24, 2006. He was born October 13, 1931, in East Finley, a son of Leslie Wayne and Iva Pearl Morrison McConnell. Mr. McConnell attended Trinity High School and was a member of Third United Presbyterian Church. During the Korean conflict, he was stationed in Germany and received the German Occupation Medal. He was a sharpshooter and expert in pistol. For 41 years, from 1950 to October 13, 1991, he was a member of the U.S. Army National Guard Headquarters and Headquarters Company 110th Infantry, 28th Division. He successfully completed the Army National Guard recruiter course in 1971 and retired with the rank of first sergeant. Mr. McConnell was employed at Washington Steel as a mill operator from 1964 to March of 1994, and had worked at Hazel Atlas Glass Co. He was a former commander of Taylorstown American Legion. On July 9, 1951, he married Merla Gayle Wright, who died September 8, 2003. Surviving are a son, Daniel (Tammy) McConnell of DuBois; two daughters, Linda (Boyd) Staley of Fall City, Wash., and Mildred "Millie" (Jacky) Glaze of Cumming, Ga.; a brother, Kenneth McConnell of Washington; two sisters, Opal Dorsey of Washington and Ruth Maxwell of Guymon, Okla.; seven grandchildren, Christopher Staley, Trisha Kaseler, Erin Jones, Jesse Czapski, Jeremy Czapski, Melissa McConnell and Jon McConnell; and six great-grandchildren, McCaila Staley, Kennedy Staley, Conner Jones, Mason Jones, Alexis Kaseler and Emily Czapski. Deceased are three brothers, Leslie McConnell, William McConnell and Ray McConnell; and two sisters, Constance Pettit and Verla Post. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 28, with Pastor Gary Gibson officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded by Edwin Scott Linton American Legion Post 175.