Ralph Perry Sweeton, the son of Walter H. and Marie Ruth (Reed) Sweeton, was born November 6, 1923, in Dora, MO. He attended area schools in his youth, graduating in 1942 from Rock Port High School. He played football under Coach Richard Hinderliter.

Ralph was united in marriage to Mary Ruth Young on February 3, 1945 in Dayton, Ohio where Ralph was stationed at Wright-Patterson Airfield Base. They had three children, Randy, Nancy and Maralee. Mary passed away at their home on March 14, 2009. Ralph passed away September 24, 2009 at Fairfax Community Hospital after battling many serious health issues over the past several years.

Ralph had varied careers over the years. After leaving the Army Air Force, he and Mary stayed in Dayton, Ohio where he worked at Huffy Bicycle Plant until 1952 when they moved back to Rock Port. Ralph and his father Walter started a trucking business, Sweeton Trucking. They hauled livestock and shelled corn before the days of combines. They also hauled cobs which were used in a variety of ways. After his father died, Ralph continued trucking and branched out to buying and selling of livestock over a 4 state area.

Ralph loved sports and horses. He was a passionate fan of the Blue Jays, football and basketball and loved to watch the Blue Jay girls play basketball. One of the highlights for him was making it to a game in 2008 after recuperating from a fractured back. He and his daughter Maralee spent many hours traveling to horse shows and rodeos all over the country. He had an avid interest in young riders and encouraged them to participate in rodeos and other horse shows. He was a true “Horse Person.”

Ralph was a proud Army Air Force WWII veteran and a member of the Ralph Greer Post 49 for over 20 years. He was a Mason for many years until ill health prevented him from participating. Ralph never met a stranger, in fact he never failed to find someone he knew, wherever his travels took him. He enjoyed a good card game and until this past year never missed a game at the Senior Center.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary, Sister Pauline Shelton and his parents Walter and Marie Sweeton. He is survived by his children, Randy Sweeton and his wife, Diana, Nancy Mutzbauer and her husband, Barry, and Maralee Dinsdale and her husband, Kevin; grandchildren, Lynda Sweeton, Anthony Mutzbauer, Christina Sweeton, Brett Mutzbauer, Randi Milne, Ryan Sweeton and Robert Sweeton; great grandchildren, Nicole Peterson, Erica Mutzbauer and Jackson Schmidt; one niece and several nephews.

Graveside Service and Interment:
11:00 am, Monday, September 28, 2009, Hunter Cemetery, Rock Port.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Sunday, September 27th at Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.
Full Graveside Military Rites under the auspices of Ralph Greer American Legion Post #49, Rock Port.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Atchison County Memorial Building Walk of Honor or Rock Port Nutrition Center.
Services under the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.