Ralph "Rusty" Caldwell of Battlement Mesa, Colorado was born August 20, 1925, in Fallis, Oklahoma.

He died Thursday, January 30, 2014, in Battlement Mesa at the age of 88 years.

Mr. Caldwell, the son of Ralph A. and Olive Marie Smith Caldwell, married Eva Deane Lindsey on December 16, 1945.

He graduated from Wellston High School and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

He served in the military during World War II and the Korean War and was a member of reserve unit 45th Armored Division in Chandler.

Rusty was a teacher of vocational agriculture in Chandler and an agri-business instructor at Des Moines Iowa Area Community College.

He enjoyed watching OSU sports on TV. He filled his bucket list when he and his sons visited Chandler in the summer of 2012 and were met by many former students, neighbors and family friends. Chandler was always "home".

Memorials are suggested to the Chandler High School FFA.

Preceding him in death were his wife and his sister, Barbara Jean Murphy.

Survivors include two sons, Greg Caldwell of Austin, Texas and Ken Caldwell of Grand Island, Nebraska; four grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and other family and friends.

The family will have a private interment at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Martin Mortuary in Grand Junction, Colorado.