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Ralph Eugene Guion of West Caldwell, New Jersey, died on August 25, 2017. He was 95.
Mr. Guion grew up in Richmond Hill, New York, and was a graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point. He served in the United States Merchant Marines during World War II, earning the rank of lieutenant. Between 1942 and 1945, he served on two Liberty ships: SS Patrick Henry and SS Richmond Mumford Pearson, as well as two T2 ships: the SS Wilson’s Creek and the SS Wyoming Valley. While in the service, he earned the Atlantic War Zone Bar, the Pacific War Zone Bar, and the Merchant Marine Combat Bar. After the war, while working full-time in insurance, Mr. Guion put himself through eight years of night school at Brooklyn Polytech, earning a degree in mechanical engineering. After obtaining his degree, he worked for Grumman. At Grumman, he worked on the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module project and the beginnings of infrared technology.
Mr. Guion also lived in Garden City and Southampton.
He was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn (Wheen) Guion. He is survived by two children, Cynthia Deluca and husband Michael of Islandia, and Richard Guion and wife Sharon of Virginia; grandchildren, Michael and Jason Herrick, and Eric, Katie, Edward and Maggie Guion; and great-grandchildren, Mario and Brianna.
He was predeceased by a brother, Larry Guion; a step-brother, Fairman Black; and grandson Eugene Guion.
Burial will be at Pinelawn Cemetery in Farmingdale.
Memorial donations may be made to Smile Train, an international cleft lip and palate children’s charity, smiletrain.org; the Merchant Marine Academy, usmma.edu; or a charity of your choice.
on Sep 14, 2017