Ralph H. Rinne, MD

Ralph Henry Rinne, age 101, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones at home in his beloved community of Bellingham, Washington, where he had made his life with his loving wife, Eleanor, and family. Born February 26, 1924, in Higginsville, Missouri, to Edward H. Rinne and Lillie A. Rinne, he graduated from Higginsville High School where he was on the football team and played the trombone in his high school band as well as the Higginsville City marching band. Growing up during the Great Depression, he often recounted fond memories and stories of his youth working on the local farms, helping his dad and grandpa in construction, and having his own paper route. He always said these years were rich beyond measure with family and faith even though they were difficult.

Due to WWII and the Korean War, the following years of school involved the Navy. During WWII, the Navy took over Westminster College, in Fulton, Missouri, where he was attending and he made the decision to join up, finishing his pre-med as a corpsman. He then was offered a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University for medical school but, ultimately, chose to go to St. Louis University as it was closer to home and family. Upon graduation in 1948 and during his internship at Kansas City General Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital, he met the love of his life, Eleanor Grove, who was working as an RN, and they married in 1949. In 1953, as a Lieutenant JG in the Navy Reserve and in residency at Kansas City General with two young children, Bruce and Michelle, he was called to duty at Long Beach, CA, where he deployed to Incheon, Korea for his obligatory service time to the Navy. He served as a surgeon on hospital ship USS Consolation whose mission was in support of the 1st Marine Division. Following his discharge in 1954 and further training, the family moved to Bellingham in 1956.

The following years were devoted to raising their four children and working as a Board Certified General and Thoracic Surgeon at a time when there were three hospitals in Whatcom County and limited hands to do the work. He took a keen interest in medical care delivery in his community, devoting countless hours of his personal time to various committees and boards advocating for quality community medical care, as well as philanthropic pursuits for the hospital and Western Washington University. He was an avid fisherman, boater, a fabulous dancer, and snow skied up into his 80s. In March of 2000, after a notable career performing over 20,000 surgeries, he retired and turned to woodworking, making furniture and clocks for his children and grandchildren from the Eastern Black Walnut which grew on Eleanor’s family homestead farm in Indiana.

He was a member of St. James Presbyterian Church and Rotary Club of Bellingham. He served on the Western Washington University Foundation Board where he and Eleanor established the Ralph and Eleanor Rinne Family Premedical Scholarship Fund. He was past Chairman and member of the board of directors of Whatcom Medical Bureau and Founding Director of the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital Foundation. He served as Chief of Staff at St. Luke Hospital, Chief of Staff at St. Joseph Hospital, and Surgical Department Chair at St. Joseph and St. Luke Hospitals.

The last living member of his birth family and his medical school class, he was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; his parents, Edward and Lillie; and his siblings, Anna Marie Rinne, Bill Rinne, and Marvin Rinne.

He is survived by his son, Bruce Rinne (Becky); daughters, Michelle Amos, Rhonda Williams (Ken), and Lisa Schwartz (Ivan); grandchildren, David Rinne, Scott Rinne, Kelsie Savoy, Christena Unseth, Miranda Peele, Amy Leenstra, Walker VanWingerden, and Lauren VanWingerden; seven, almost eight, great-grandchildren; and extended relatives back in Missouri.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers and medical professionals who cared for him so lovingly. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Ralph and Eleanor Rinne Family Premedical Scholarship Fund at Western Washington University, Rotary Club of Bellingham, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and the Whatcom Humane Society.

A funeral service will be held at 11am on Thursday, Dec. 11, at St. James Presbyterian (910 14th St. Bellingham) followed by a graveside at Bayview Cemetery. A reception will follow at 1pm at Bellingham Yacht Club (2625 S Harbor Loop Dr.).