BOMBER MEMORIAL

RALPH MARVIN "MARV" CARSTENS ~ Class of 1961
November 26, 1943 - December 12, 2012

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Ralph Marvin "Marv" Carstens passed away on December 12, 2012. He was born in Lawton, OK on November 26, 1943. After his parents divorced he and his mother moved to Richland in June of 1950 where he went from 2nd grade through high school (Col-Hi Class of 1961). He and his wife (Sue) were married in September of 1966 and he graduated from EWU in 1967.

He was drafted into the Army in 1967 and was sent to Vietnam to walk point with his scout dog. He was discharged in 1969.

He moved to Albany, OR, where he taught high school and worked at a radio station for 10 years. Both of his children were born in Albany.

The family moved to Richland in 1979. He continued in radio and then retail. He taught for the KSD, CBC, and Richland Community schools, writing textbooks for use at all three institutions. He took a lot of pride in putting KTCV (88.1) radio on the air in December of 1984. He was briefly employed by the state, and retired from everything in 2007.

He enjoyed reading, word games, history, and numismatics. He also enjoyed the many family trips to the Oregon coast, where he showed his children starfish, crabs, sea anemones, octopi and sea lions in the wild, as well as the natural beauty of the coast.

He is survived by is wife Sue, daughter Heather Carstens Pedlar ('88), son Darren and 5 granddaughters, Ariel Lynn, Abigail Marie, Sarah Grace, Rebekah Anne, and Naomi Elizabeth. He has 3 half sisters (Kay Simpson, Richland; Susan Simpson, Benton City; Patricia Tuccitto and a half-brother Alex Carstens. He also leaves 8 nieces and nephews.

Gone before him were two infant nieces, mother Shirley Simpson, and father Ralph Carstens.

Memorial services will be held at Memories at Sunset Event Center, Richland at 1:00 PM Monday, December 17, 2012.

Express your thoughts and memories in the online guest book at www.einansfuneralhome.com.