Ralph Andrew Wingfield |
| Posted 2008-10-31 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona March 22, 2001 Santa Cruz rancher Wingfield dies at 91 Longtime Santa Cruz Valley rancher Ralph Wingfield died last Thursday at 91. "Everything in his body just shut down. He died peacefully in his sleep," said his second wife of 1 1/2 years, Marjel DeLauer, 71. His first wife passed away 21 years ago. Wingfield kept good company. Among his closest friends were actor John Wayne and Old Tucson Studios founder Bob Shelton. "He went around the world with John Wayne. They were like brothers," DeLauer said. Wingfield met Wayne when Wingfield supplied cattle for movie production companies. Wayne would often visit one of Wingfield's ranches, and the two would spend time at a ranch they owned together and enjoy the views of the Santa Rita and Patagonia mountains. Wingfield owned the Guevavi Ranch, northeast of Nogales. Wingfield sold the 1,100-acre ranch in 1991 to Nogales as the city sought to secure future water rights. Part of the property included the ruins of the Guevavi Mission, founded by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino. Over the years, the Guevavi Mission site has yielded a number of ancient bones and other relics. Wingfield told reporters that would-be treasure seekers would approach him, offering to make him a millionaire if he would allow them to dig at the site, which was about a mile south of his ranch home. Wingfield was born in Camp Verde and spent 50 years in Santa Cruz County. He spent his final year with DeLauer in Green Valley. A family viewing is scheduled for Sunday. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Nogales. In addition to his wife, Wingfield is survived by children Edward G. Wingfield, Geoffrey A. Wingfield and Ann Pinyard, and seven grandchildren. |
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