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Ralph Marvin Carstens
11/26/1943 — 12/12/2012
From Richland, WA, USA | Born in Lawton, OK
Ralph Marvin Carstens
RALPH MARVIN MARV CARSTENS
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 Pedlar, 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 of Englewood, CO and a half-brother Alex Carstens of May, Texas. 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.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Mr. Carstens was a great man that helped me through some rough spots in my life as a teen Mom… I think my 4 yr. old Granddaughter says this the best ” He didnt die, he just went to live with Jesus!” R.I.P. Mr. Carstens, you will be missed by many…….
I so loved Marv! Seriously impacted my life in a powerful way. I know he tried to empower me for success in life and pushed for me to retain my creativity when I was at KTCV. He genuinely cared for me and I have very fond memories of him. I believe he may have treated me the best out of anyone who was a teacher I interracted with thru my 12 years of education spread abroad over like 8 states and countless schools
Thanks so much Marv for all you did! I am grateful and you are missed! While I like other students didnt keep in touch with you over the years, I do know that you were an important part of my life and development and I honor you for that. Thank you sir!
I know this is a very difficult time for the family. Something that has always given me comfort is a scripture at Revelation 21:4, it says, “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.â I sincerely hope this brings you some comfort.
Amazing man, awesome brother, loving husband and father. I was so blessed to have you in my life and the times we had together. I will miss your stories, and jokes, your wonder and joy of life and it’s marvels. Most of all I will simply miss you in my life. Love you
Sue, Heather and Darren. My sincere condolences on the passing of Marv and your loss. A long, hard and noble battle to the end. I fondly recall the conversations and emails over time with Marv. His quick wit, ability to strike to the heart of the matter on any topic-non nonsense, was pure and refreshing. Marv truely possessed a gift. His stories, the history he retained and Marv’s laugh will be missed; but, not forgotten.
With sadness and love,
Lou
Condolences to the family. I remember my time with Mr. C in the early 1990s. Through the ups and downs, he always tried to stay the course. Bless him for that. My fondest memories was the annual all-nighter at TAVAC so KTCV could stay on the air into the weekend. The days before automation! He was such a trooper. You could see though at the end of the all-nighter he was ready to go home and go to bed.
I hope he is at peace, he earned it.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Mr. Carstens was a great man that helped me through some rough spots in my life as a teen Mom… I think my 4 yr. old Granddaughter says this the best ” He didnt die, he just went to live with Jesus!” R.I.P. Mr. Carstens, you will be missed by many…….
I so loved Marv! Seriously impacted my life in a powerful way. I know he tried to empower me for success in life and pushed for me to retain my creativity when I was at KTCV. He genuinely cared for me and I have very fond memories of him. I believe he may have treated me the best out of anyone who was a teacher I interracted with thru my 12 years of education spread abroad over like 8 states and countless schools
Thanks so much Marv for all you did! I am grateful and you are missed! While I like other students didnt keep in touch with you over the years, I do know that you were an important part of my life and development and I honor you for that. Thank you sir!
I know this is a very difficult time for the family. Something that has always given me comfort is a scripture at Revelation 21:4, it says, “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.â I sincerely hope this brings you some comfort.
Amazing man, awesome brother, loving husband and father. I was so blessed to have you in my life and the times we had together. I will miss your stories, and jokes, your wonder and joy of life and it’s marvels. Most of all I will simply miss you in my life. Love you
Sue, Heather and Darren. My sincere condolences on the passing of Marv and your loss. A long, hard and noble battle to the end. I fondly recall the conversations and emails over time with Marv. His quick wit, ability to strike to the heart of the matter on any topic-non nonsense, was pure and refreshing. Marv truely possessed a gift. His stories, the history he retained and Marv’s laugh will be missed; but, not forgotten.
With sadness and love,
Lou
Condolences to the family. I remember my time with Mr. C in the early 1990s. Through the ups and downs, he always tried to stay the course. Bless him for that. My fondest memories was the annual all-nighter at TAVAC so KTCV could stay on the air into the weekend. The days before automation! He was such a trooper. You could see though at the end of the all-nighter he was ready to go home and go to bed.
I hope he is at peace, he earned it.
Oh, what memories that picture brings back. I am so sorry for your loss. Marv was truly one of a kind. Sue, Heather, Darren, and families, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh, what memories that picture brings back. I am so sorry for your loss. Marv was truly one of a kind. Sue, Heather, Darren, and family, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
“Mr C” Marv Carstens was my Drama Instructor at West Albany High School in Albany Oregon. I auditioned for a play on a lark one night. I never had the intention to actually be in Theatre. The next day I saw Mr Carstens in the hall and thought I would tease him – because I was certain he would not remember me. I said ‘Hello’ and he not only responded but with my name. I would have taken anything he taught from that point on. At graduation three years later, he gave me his ‘Best All Around’ in Theatre commendation – an award I still regard as a highlight of my young life. I have since gotten my degree in Theatre and have produced, directed and presented programs in Europe, all over the US and Canada. I recently began a Shakespeare Festival in Mount Vernon, WA. Theatre has been the center of my life and ‘Mr C’ began it all by treating me and all his students with simple honesty and respect. He is remembered and honored by me and I am certain thousands of others. Blessings, GregRobin.
I met Marv in 1965, when I was a freshman at EWSC. He was such a nice fellow – smart and funny, but also very mature.. the kind of person I had hoped to meet in college. I lost touch with Marv but I remembered his kindness to me. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Bob Acorn
I am so sad to hear of Marv’s passing. He was a dear friend while we attended EWU, both graduating in 1967, I a quarter earlier I think. I have tried and tried to find Marv since my return to WA finally in 2001 after 34 years with the gov’t. I queried EWU Alumni Assoc numerous times and searched online to no avail. Marv was very interested in Creative Writing then. He and I were close due to our ages and shared many a beer. I recall the name Sue Grantham was that his wife? I will miss him greatly and already do.
My deepest sympathies to his family. Marv or Mr C as I first new him, was my instructor at KTCV back in 88/89. Because of him I have had a wonderful 20 year career in broadcasting as a Photojournalist. I feel sad that I never had a chance to thank him for helping me find my path in life. He was a good man and a great teacher.
I spent the latter half of 1989 in Mr Carstens class at TAVAC and completed the FCC licence requirements under him. I learned a great deal from him and loved the time I spent on air at 88.1! I will always remember the in depth conversations we had about my home country and his empathy with all students. I remember him fondly. May he RIP.
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Ralph Marvin Carstens