In Loving Memory

Dennis Thomas Ranalla

Dennis Thomas Ranalla, a longtime area resident, passed away peacefully in Moses Lake, WA on December 29, 2021 with his beloved wife spending his last 12 days beside him. He was the youngest of nine children born on May 20, 1947 in Pittsburgh, PA to Albert and Kathryn (Rouillard) Ranalla,

Dennis' parents divorced when he was 6 months old leaving his mother to raise all of the children on her own. The older children helped out their mother by watching the younger siblings and by contributing wages earned outside the home. When Dennis was 13, he and his mother along with an older sister and brother, moved across the country to Lynwood, CA for 4 years before moving to Calistoga, CA where he attended high school. Dennis was a member of the football team before graduating with the class of 1966. A friend of Dennis' brought him to his grandparent's ranch to look at some old cars that they could consider restoring and he had a chance encounter with his friend's cousin, Charlene Campbell, and he was smitten. He asked her for a date for over a month before she finally said yes and their first date was one of his home football games.

Dennis signed up for delayed enlistment into the U.S. Navy and after graduating he entered into active duty in boot camp in October 1966. After boot camp, he was signed to Hospital Corps in San Diego, CA, after graduation he and Charlene were married on April 23, 1967 then three days later drove back to Philadelphia, PA where he was stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital from April of 1967 to April of 1968. Charlene worked on the base as a hairdresser during that time. Dennis next got orders to Special Forces Second Recon Company at Camp Lejeune N.C. He was then sent to Ft. Benning, GA to attend jump school. And then to Florida to Dive School in Key West. He then received orders to the West Coast to Coronado Island CA, where he joined the UDT "frogman" team 13. After a time there, Dennis started training with other teammates for the Apollo 12 Recovery team, thus becoming a part of the Apollo 12 Recovery Team when it came back from the moon. He was stationed aboard the USS Hornet on November 24, 1969 when they retrieved the Apollo 12 capsule and the three astronauts in the waters off of American Samoa. It was there Dennis met John Stonecipher who was with NASA. John and Dennis hit it off and he shared with Dennis how to get first day covers signed by the Astronauts so over the years Dennis was able to have many signatures from different missions. Dennis was interested in going to the lift off and landing of STS-95 John Glenn's last mission, so a letter was written to Senator John Glenn and an invitation was received to be present at John Glenn's last trip to space October 29, 1998. Dennis was honorably discharged from his military service in 1970.

Dennis and Charlene moved this time to Napa, and he earned his AS degree in nursing. Always one to keep learning, Dennis earned several more degrees when he returned to Pennsylvania again, attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Anesthesia. Next was a BS degree in Public Health Nursing from California State College California PA., a Master's degree in Education from Duquesne University, and to top it all off he was working full time as well. Next, Dennis moved back to CA where he earned a double PhD Nursing and Hospital administration while also obtaining his pilot's license!

Dennis and Charlene welcomed two wonderful children into their lives, first with the birth of their son, Dennis, and then their daughter, Tressa. Wanting to get away from the city, Dennis bought 20 acres up Barnaby Creek where the family would permanently move to in 1988. Dennis continued to work as a relief Nurse Anesthetist in Northern California and in Southern Oregon spending several weeks down there before returning home for a week at a time. Dennis had a license to practice in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Alabama, and Pennsylvania. Dennis noticed that his memory was getting bad, so he made the decision to retire completely in 2009. This gave him time for projects around their property such as beginning to build a cabin and restoring a 48' Chevy pickup, while also continuing to care and harvest the orchard. Dennis was a proud life member of the Colville VFW Post #6963 and a devoted man of faith helping to build churches in Russia. He was a compassionate and giving man that liked to share with family and friends. Sadly, his condition began to take over to the point of needing full time care and he went to a care facility in Moses Lake in February 2021 where he remained until his passing.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Azilda Ardine; brothers-in-law, Bill Ardine, Joel Cheek; sister-in-law, Joan Ranalla; and daughter-in-law, Anna Ranalla He is survived by his beloved wife, Charlene; son, Dennis Ranalla II; daughter, Tressa Scheurger; grandchildren, Raen Ranalla, Aspen Renalla, Dillan Beers, Greysen Schuerger; great grandchildren, Shantara and Silene; brothers, Albert (Thelma) Ranalla, Timothy Ranalla, Richard Ranalla, Joseph (Cheryl) Ranalla; sisters, Theresa Cheek, Janet (Jim) Ruiter, Elizabeth (Bud) Peel; numerous nieces and nephews.

Dennis was laid to rest with military honors at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA.

Memorial contributions in can be made to the Colville VFW Post #6963. Please visit the online memorial and sign his guest book at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory have been entrusted in his care.