Bainbridge resident Ralph Birum, age 94, died Dec. 22 at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle.

He was born Dec. 26, 1906 in Union City, Indiana to William Absalom Birum. He spent his childhood in Union City and later attended Fort Wayne Business College.

In 1929, he moved to Yakima, Wash. and worked for Federal Auto Freight.

He married Irene Carlton on June 25, 1933.

Later that year, the couple moved to Kennewick, where he was employed by Consolidated Freight Lines. The couple also lived in Wenatchee, Wash., Missoula, Mont. and Tacoma, Wash.

In 1942, he bought his own freight line in Puyallup, Wash., Jones and Birum Motor Freight. He sold the freight company in 1946 and purchases an ice creamery and delicatessen in Puyallup, which he and his wife operated until 1955.

He moved to Mountlake Terrace, Wash., where the couple owned and operated a hardware store.

He was elected to the city council of Mountlake Terrace and served as mayor pro tem.

He sold the hardware store in 1964 and went into business with Terrace Realty until his retirement in 1968.

He came out of retirement in his mid 80s to share his time with the public as an employee of Public Storage in Everett, where the couple resided.

The couple moved to Bainbridge Island in 1998 and resided at the Madison Avenue Retirement Center.

He was preceded in death by his five brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by Irene Birum, his wife of 68 years; two sons, Ron and his wife Linda of Bainbridge Island and Larry and his wife Mary Kay of Mesquite, Nev.; grandchildren Kevin, Derrick, Julie and D’Layne; five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A private memorial celebration will be held Jan. 12. Rev. Dick Middleton of Rolling Bay Presbyterian will preside.

Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society.