Ralph Merritt Kerns of Laguna Niguel, CA passed away December 23, 2022 surrounded by loved ones. Ralph was a beloved and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He is survived by his wife Debbie, daughters Kara Carter and Lauren, grandsons Ross and Rhett Carter, and brother Billy Joe. Ralph was born November 2, 1942 to Iva Lorene and Ralph Merritt Correll in Oswego, KS. With the passing of Ralph Sr. in WWII, Ralph and his brother were raised by his mother and stepfather, Lawrence Kerns. The family eventually settled in Anaheim, CA where Ralph graduated from Anaheim High School.

Ralph was known for his creativity, optimism, and determination which came through both in his hobbies and career. Ralph grew up as a thrill seeker, riding his bike off the roof of the barn, driving the truck around the farm as soon as he could reach the pedals, and becoming an avid water and snow skier. Ralph encouraged his daughters in the same manner, urging them to just point their skies downhill and go. As an adult, Ralph became a prolific artist, receiving honorable mentions in local art competitions and helping Lauren earn straight A's for all of her school art projects. Ralph was also a knowledgeable gardener, spending many weekends designing and working on his yard. Beyond his hobbies, Ralph was an accomplished mechanical engineer, known to his colleagues for his innovative approach to problem solving, often finding solutions for issues previously thought impossible. Ralph's work led to numerous patents and the development of medical devices to benefit patients with various diseases.

Ralph valued and loved his family beyond anything. Ralph became a father to Kara during his first marriage and shared with her his love of science. Ralph moved to Texas for a short period where he met and fell in love with Debbie. After convincing her to move back to California, they welcomed daughter Lauren. Ralph and Debbie were married for 39 years, traveling and going on new adventures often. Ralph was the best father, offering unwavering support to his daughters and showing up for every event (small or large). Out of all Ralph's accomplishments, he was most proud of his daughters.

Ralph will be remembered for his kindness, positivity, and double stuff Oreo cookie addiction.

Ralph will be buried in a private service for immediate family with a broader memorial service to be held at a yet to be determined date. In lieu of flower, the family asks that donations be made to PEP4U (donate to PEP4U), an organization that provides tremendous help to local Parkinson's patients which greatly benefited Ralph and his family through his illness.

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