Ralph was born in Hudson on September 28, 1924 to Maude and Peter Avery. He completed K-12 schooling in Hudson. He worked in Hudson, Columbia County for most of his life. Ralph was 16 or 17 when he went into military service. He had one brother and two sisters. One sister died at six years of age. The other sister is 96 years old and in a nursing home. He had a very close-knit large family with many uncles and aunts.

The house he grew up in was 558 Warren Street; it was a two-family house with two stories. There was a confectionary store and tailor shop located on the first floor. His family lived on the top floor and his grandfather and his wife on the floor below. Ralph’s father Peter Avery was born in Hudson. He worked at Lone Star Cement for many years, retiring from there. Ralph also worked at Lone Star after World War II. He said, “Dirty work but money was good.” It was a good company that was close to home. In addition, he worked in the Grand Union as a clerk.

He said that the teachers understood that a war was coming, observing the effect on their students and families. During the war Hudson people were concerned, but not panicked until Pearl Harbor. Ralph enlisted in the Navy. He graduated as a gunner’s mate and third class petty officer. He attended training for amphibious tanks in Virginia. His job was to train the gun crews to fire and hit targets, to handle ammunition, and keep it separate and dry aboard ship.