Respecting a “southern boy”

By Don Kruse, Editor

The Advertiser-Courier

There’s something about those southern boys that win you over, making you believe in what they say is good. Gentleman-like politeness would describe Ralph Jefferson Sturkey, Jr. He had charm and followed the rules of etiquette to a tee.
Mr. Sturkey, a retired U.S. Marine major who served in World War II and saw action in battles at Okinawa and Iwo Jima, passed away on Aug. 6 in his hometown of Salisbury, N.C. He  was 95.
Until the last couple of years, Ralph and his wife, Eloise (nee Suenkel) would split their time living in Hermann and Salisbury, where he had deep roots. But Eloise was deep-rooted in Gasconade County, having spent eight early years of her life in Owensville, then later youth years in Hermann. Her dad was the late A.B. Suenkel, who was a long-time probate judge in Gasconade County. She graduated from Hermann High School in 1935, and earned a degree from the teachers college at Cape Girardeau.
So Ralph and Eloise bought a house in Hermann. In fact, they once owned two residences here.

(Read the rest of the story in this week’s Advertiser-Courier)

Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 3:18 pm