Obituary of Ralph R. Edwards

Services will be held in Santa Cruz on Saturday for longtime Santa Cruz resident and North Coast rancher, Ralph Edwards, who died at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto with his loving family at his bedside. Born in Westminster, California, he was 90 years old. Mr. Edwards served his country in the US Navy during WW II and saw action in the Pacific Theater. Following his service in the Navy, Mr. Edwards returned to Westminster, and farmed his father's property with his brother until the mid-1950. He then moved to Chico, California and ranched there for a number of years before moving to Santa Cruz in 1965. For the past 49 years, Mr. Edwards has operated both his Coast Road Ranch in Santa Cruz, and the Red White and Blue Beach. His family will forever remember his passion for living on his ranch, his rugged nature and work style, and of course the funny stories that often went along with his management of the beach and campground. Mr. Edwards was a car aficionado and a member of the Horseless Carriage Club. He restored many automobiles including his 1912 LaFrance Fire Truck, '35 Ford Coupe and a 1922 Dodge. He loved to go ocean fishing right in front of his property, and enjoyed working with his son who now helps maintain the ranch. Mr. Edwards is survived by his five children; Roger Edwards of Thailand, Rhonda Abel of Lake Tahoe, Kristin Scofield and her husband Philip of Soquel, Janie Edwards of Chico, and Roland Edwards of Santa Cruz. He also leaves his seven beloved grandchildren: Roger Ralph Edwards II, Stacie Edwards, Andy Nelson, Mandy Alamillo, Heather Scofield, Amber Tesler, Heidi Locatelli; and nine great grandchildren: Duke Edwards, Nicole Lloyd, Austin Lloyd, Olivia Nelson, Anthony Rastellini, Hayden F. Tesler, Wyatt A. Tesler, Kyle Scofield, and Kayla Barros. Mr. Edwards also is survived by his brother, Roland Edwards of Westminster, CA. Friends and family will gather to say farewell on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel in Santa Cruz beginning at 3 p.m. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Westminster Memorial Park beside his loving wife, Kathleen Edwards who preceded him in death this past year. Any kind acts of charity can be made in Mr. Edward's memory to Disabled American Veterans, www.dav.org or a charity of your choice.