Ralph Eugene Hilt died May 30 at his home in Silverdale, Washington.

He was born March 10, 1936, to Allen and Vivian Thompson Hilt in Port Angeles.

After graduating from high school there in 1954, he attended Olympic College on a football scholarship. In 1956, he married Dolores Pykonen. He graduated from Western Washington Teacher’s College with a teaching degree in 1959.

He and Dee moved to Forks, where he taught and coached junior high football. After teaching for two years in Tacoma, Washington, they returned to Forks, where he taught and coached football, basketball, track and Babe Ruth baseball until 1977. He helped found the West End Little League football program and started a men’s holiday basketball tournament.

Leaving Forks in 1977, they settled in Medical Lake, Washington, where he was again the football coach and athletic director, as well as serving on the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association executive board for several years. He retired in 1996 after 36 years of teaching. Ralph and Dee returned to live in Silverdale to be near family.

Ralph leaves a wife, Dee; two sons, Michael (Olivia) and Jeffrey (Becky); and two granddaughters, Christine and Alisah.

His granddaughter Kaysi preceded him in death.

A memorial service was held at Lewis Funeral Chapel on Saturday, June 10, 2017.