Ralph L. Fort

Ralph L. Fort, 88, died at 12:05 a.m. Friday at his home in Pekin. Ralph was born on March 20, 1921, on a farm near Clinton to George M. and Abbie (Sperry) Fort.He married Jeanne M. Ehrhardt on December 27, 1949.They were married for 57 years. Ralph grew up on a farm near Allentown and later in Morton, where he graduated from high school in 1938.During his high school years and after graduating he worked for his father's trucking business hauling milk, coal, and freight. Ralph served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a fighter pilot.He flew 55 missions in Italy in his P-51 Mustang, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic action.Following the war he attended Bradley University where he graduated in 1948. Ralph was the owner of Fort and Schock Chrysler Plymouth in Pekin for over thirty years.After retiring he spent his winters in Bonita Springs, FL.He was an avid fisherman and golfer, and he routinely shot his age or better into his 80s. Ralph was a member of the Elks, Moose, Rotary, Pekin Country Club, Bonita Bay Club, and the Morton Masonic Lodge. Ralph was preceded in death by his wife Jeanne and brother Lloyd.He is survived by his sons Michael (Irene) and Christopher (Karen) of Pekin and Patrick (Irina) of Eagle River, Alaska; sisters Mildred (Gale) Schafer of Wisconsin, Viola Dringenberg of California, Louise Wanner and Doris (Eldon) Bauman of Morton; brothers Ray (Norie) of Florida and Roy of Morton; grandchildren Patrick (Heather), Brian, Trevor, Libbie, Christopher, Rachel, and Victoria; and great-grandchildren Mackenzie, Keelan, and Cadence.