Ralph F. Pauly 1919-2009 By Margaret Pauly Tate Ralph Pauly was born on the Pauly farm (on today's Pauly Road) and grew up there. It was called Linnton then. He attended Brooks Elementary School. After finishing his schooling, he helped his dad on the farm. Later on in his life, he would tell about the difficulties of plowing the steeper fields with a team of horses, or making shingles and re-roofing the barn, or of taking the produce into Portland to sell to the grocers. On January 13, 1943, he was drafted into the military service. After training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and in Mississippi and Texas, he was assigned to the Fifth Air Force Command where he became a combat engineer on a B24 Liberator called the "Flak Fed Flapper," assigned to the South Pacific, specifically New Guinea and Northern Australia. During his service he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was awarded the Air Medal with three clusters, ribbons from the Philippines and Pacific theatres, and three Battle Stars. He accrued 400 air combat hours and was discharged from military service on September 15, 1945 and shipped home. Three members of his crew are still living. All four kept in touch. Post traumatic stress syndrome was greatly experienced then by the G.I.s. After Ralph came home, he worked for a timber company and then for the Multnomah County Road Department. Later he became district supervisor for this area and continued in that position for many years. He is survived by his wife Josephine, two stepsons Michael and Tim and their families, and by three sisters, Margaret Tate, Winifred Hopkins, and Doris Pauly, and a number of nieces and nephews. We will miss him. Ralph Fred Paully May 06, 1919 - March 26, 2009 Ralph was born in Portland. He was a proofer for Wells Fargo. Ralph is survived by his wife, Josephine; and his stepson, Michael Price and Timothy Price. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, 2009, in Bethany Cemetery. Arrangements by Skylane Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home.