Recipes for Living Ralph Bryant

Grandpa and Grandma Kimes

Charlie and Ella

Lucy May Kimes Bryant

Ralph's story is a collaboration of his own writing, possibly in anticipation of using it as his obituary; insertions — indicated by brackets — of a taped interview in April 2010, at his present home at Clarke County Hospital, and impressions of those who lately have come to know him.

Ralph and his contemporaries grew up in a time quite different than now. Hard work from the time he was young boy was the order of the day. Although the twinkle in his eyes and laugh lines around them, reveals he has a rare sense of humor and loves a good laugh, fun and diversion were not common as farmers tilled the soil and tended their animals only to have the Depression take its toll, then the young men called to serve their country in World War II. Additionally, for Ralph, the death of his mother at his early age left a void never sufficiently filled. Although his grandparents made a home for him, no one could take her place.

Ralph Bryant was born August 30th, 1918, on the east end of New Virginia, Iowa, in Warren County. His beloved Mother, Lucy May Kimes Bryant, died in childbirth on February 10th,1923. Brother Roy Richmann Bryant, died of tuberculosis at the age of one year and eleven days. After Ralph's mother passed away, he went to live with his Grandpa and Grandma Kimes for six years, and in 1928, Ralph went to live with his father Harry Bryant and his stepmother Georgie Palmer Bryant.

Ralph had a sister Isabel Lathrum and two half sisters named Lois Bryant McNeal and Alberta Bryant Warner. Ralph attended the New Virginia school for six years, and finished two years at the country school called "Buzzard Roost" located on the Jim Harris farm. As a young man in those days, Ralph would work for any farmer before or after school, all through the summer until school started up again in September.

[I used to hang out at a filling station and found out there was more money north of Des Moines so I got some jobs there. One place I worked, the husband and wife had jobs in the city so I had the care of the farm. They had big tractors and a big farm. The next year I worked at a different place. No animals, just crops. At the third place I overslept one morning — I didn't get to the farm until 7:00 or 8:00 but instead of being angry about it, they gave me breakfast and put me up. Every place I worked they seemed to like me and treat me well."]

Ralph's world exploded from boyhood into manhood, as he went from being a rural Iowa farm hand to a soldier inducted into the United States Army on April 21st, 1942. Ralph was sent to Camp Roberts in California for 13 weeks, where he nearly died from heat prostration during basic training. [The value of a soldier was made clear when we were marching in formation one day, and I collapsed, overcome by the heat. I fell to the ground, the company walked over me and left me there. It was a company coming behind us that took care of me and got me to a hospital.]

From Camp Roberts, Ralph was sent to Fort Ord, where he was assigned to the reclassification and assignment section. At this time he was transferred to Fort Dix on the east coast, then off to Camp Pickett where they awaited troop ships to take them off to Europe!

[We didn't know where we were going until we were on the ship. We arrived in Oran, Algiers, continuing our training alongside the water. There was one time when we reported and discovered the Germans had come in at night and sunk every ship. I continued in the reclassification and assignment section for five months, then they asked me what I would like to do. I replied, "Run a truck." I was given a transfer to the motor pool to be a truck driver, where I served until my discharge. "I ran that truck until I wore it out and they had to get me a new one. One time I had a load of soldiers and I was running three days and three nights steady. I had stuff to haul to the edge of the ocean, and sometimes I had to get cargo.

["We just did what we had to do. One time what I had to do was drain myself. I had men and women on board, grownups and kids. I didn't know what to do but I pulled over to the side of the road, walked in front of the radiator and took care of what I needed to do. When I came back to the truck everybody was smiling. They knew what I had done. Like I said, we did what we had to do."]

Ralph served in the Army from 1942 to 1945, in Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, France, Germany and Belgium. During the invasion of Germany, the soldiers were retreating so fast that Ralph and other American soldiers chased them for three days and nights without sleep! On the day of his discharge, Japan surrendered, and soon afterward Ralph was on the train from Chicago to New Virginia and very happy to be heading home.

Grandma Ella Kimes died while Ralph was serving in the military. Grandpa Charlie said he would live with the family until Ralph came home and then he would go to Ella. He died a few months later.

["My father received this: Dear Mr. Bryant, to Harry Bryant, it is hoped that the liberty which is taken in writing you this letter will be correctly understood. I believe most people like to hear first hand news of their kinfolk. So here are a few things of interest about your son. Ralph is in excellent health. He does his part as a soldier well. There is no one in my section, who is more reliable when given a task to do. Although he is by nature very quiet, he has made many good suggestions about how we could improve our section. He gets along very well with all the fellows in this department. They all think a lot of him and I promise to do my best to bring him home soon and in good shape. Please don't feel obligated to reply to these notes. (Signed: J. William Tunicliff)]

Back in New Virginia, Ralph took a job with the Natural Pipeline Company of America starting in New Virginia. He soon became a valuable employee, first as a surveyor, in which position he traveled for over two years, then he was relocated to Geneseo, Illinois, and moved from location to location throughout Illinois. He became an inspector, and eventually a heavy equipment operator. Ralph retired on July 1, 1977, after 31 years with the-company. [I came back to Iowa that year, and it was dry! Grasshoppers were eating everything even pitch fork handles!]

Ralph fell in love with and married Ruby Lucille Alpoka on December 24th, 1948. They had no children, but a very good marriage which ended with Ruby's passing on December 26th, 1968. She was laid to rest in Geneseo, Illinois.

[I had a nice experience one afternoon when my father-in-law and I were sitting in the shade. All of a sudden a monarch butterfly lit on my left knee. It was slowly exercising its wings and when I looked closely, I saw piece of buckhorn stern in its body. I picked it up gently and pulled out the stem. I set the butterfly on the palm of my hand and then on my knee. It was exercising and then it flew away. I really believe the butterfly knew where to go to get help.]

Ralph married Evelyn Schaffer Fouche in October 1971, in Osceola, Iowa. Evelyn was the widow of Ralph Fouche.

Ralph's nature of being meticulous in everything he does, won him a reputation as an expert at restoring and repairing antique furniture. He gained a wide following as antique dealers, family and friends saw their favorite, and often times sentimental, pieces turned back into works of art. Ralph did things the old way — taking each piece apart, cleaning, reassembling and finally staining the antiques. One of his achievements was overseeing the remodeling of the Broadhorn Church. [I have a plaque which I received for my work. It states: "From the Broadhorn Church to Ralph Bryant: The Broadhorn Church appreciates Ralph Bryant for his long hours of workmanship to complete the new addition. (In quotes:) "a worker who has no need to be ashamed" (2 Tim. 2:15). 1984-1985."]

Another treasure is from 2001, when a representative from France awarded Ralph and hundreds of his fellow soldiers, commemorative diplomas, which expressed the country's heartfelt thanks for liberating their country. The ceremony was held under the rotunda at the capitol building in Des Moines. [The certificate reads: "Service to America, a certificate of appreciation presented to Ralph Bryant, a proud World War II veteran. In solemn recognition of the sacrifices and leadership of the men and women of the greatest generation. In fighting to preserve the free society, you won the war, built the peace, and gave to future generations the precious gift of freedom. As the national monument to your World War II service is dedicated in Washington, your fellow citizens honor you. We pledge that your heroic achievements, commitment to freedom, and leadership of your comrades will not be forgotten. In witness thereof this testimonial of personal gratitude is presented by the undersigned on May 29, 2004, by the Commander of the American Legion Post.]

Ralph moved from his farm home into Clarke Community Housing in Osceola in October 1997; and on February 7, 2008, to his present permanent residence in Clarke County Hospital. Ralph enjoys weekly games of cribbage and loves to read magazines featuring articles on the good old days! He also was known to play a mean harmonica when requested, and never missed a note! Ralph believes in God, and marvels at the many near death experiences he has had over the years. One of Ralph's few treasured memories of his Mother, was when he was about three years old. He had landed on a rusty old nail sticking out of a board. The memory was of her holding him, while his father pulled out the nail. Later in life he was run over by an automobile, jumped out of a hay mow door, landing directly on top of a pitch fork, actually bending it out of shape! Struck by lightning, he laid unconscious for about an hour. Then as a natural gas employee, he was once surrounded by a huge ball of fire, leaving his face with second degree burns. This is not to mention the many guardian angels, who seemed to meet him at every turn during the war years. Ralph's last wish is to be buried near his brother Roy's grave.

I am writing this in the spring of 2010. I am living in Clarke County Hospital and it is very nice. I like things to be orderly — some people call me meticulous and maybe so. Here there is a set time for us to eat and for other things we do. I have breakfast in my room but for the other two meals, I go to the dining room. Or if I check out, I can go out to eat. It is a good feeling that they want to know where I am and who I am with. They take care of my clothes, and keep the room clean. Everyone is pleasant and willing to do whatever I might ask or need. I brought with me some items that were important to me but not a lot of stuff. My room is large enough that I have plenty of space to move around.

I don't have much family left. I have a niece here in town — Verlene Stephenson, and she comes to see me every week. When she takes me out to eat, we usually go to Redman's, my favorite place. My sister in Truro, Isabel Lathrum, comes occasionally. My sister, Lois, is at Pueblo, Colorado; my sister Alberta is deceased. But there are always people here. I never get lonely.

Every day at 3:00 there is something going on. I enjoy Bingo days, and sometimes we play cards. We get a little exercise playing kick ball, which is kind of fun. I love to do jigsaw puzzles, and to play cribbage. Sometimes someone comes to do that. And sometimes I make my own fun. One of the gifts for my 90th birthday was a Mallard duck. It is set so I can put it on automation, and when people walk by it will turn its head and quack. They always jump when it happens. I play that little trick on the staff every chance I get.

I also got a card that plays the "Chicken Dance." That is the one where you put your fists under your arm pits and flap your arms. I took it to the activity room and let it play when I took it back to the room. Everybody looked around to see where the sound was coming from.

Ralph is a delightful addition to our resident life. He is always pleasant and it is a joy to visit him. We feel very fortunate that we have such a nice facility to offer retirees who are not able to live alone in their homes. We quickly note the level of assistance in order for them to feel safe, and at the same time encourage them to do all they are able for themselves. Some of them, like Ralph, have lived through very difficult — even tragic times, and it is such a privilege to make their lives pleasant and enjoyable. Ralph is one who gives back to us the pleasure of serving him so it is a two-way street.