Ralph Lewis McCune, 94, of Hutchinson, formerly of Wichita, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001. Mr. McCune was born April 22, 1906, in Benton, to Lewis O. and Edna Ramey McCune. He attended elementary and high school in Benton. After high school, he farmed and worked in the oil fields. He moved to Altamont in 1941, where he and his wife owned a farm. In 1946, he moved to Parsons, owning a filling station. In 1950 he moved to Wichita, where he worked for USD 259. He retired in 1971, as the head custodian of Wichita High School West, a position he had held for 19 years. He moved to Hutchinson in 1995. He was a member of the First Church of the Brethren, Wichita and Community Church of the Brethren, Hutchinson. On June 7, 1941, he married Orpha A. Highbarger at the First Church of the Brethren, Wichita. (Wichita Eagle, January 31, 2001)

Memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=36296823

Custodian Keeps Wheels Going 

West Word, December 10, 1965

One of the most hard working and fun-loving characters around West’s halls is Ralph McCune, head custodian.

Ralph has been at West for 12 years, keeping everything clean and in order, taking care of equipment and assisting with programs and problems.

Beside his serious accomplishments mentioned above, Ralph does much more at West.

He has completely mastered operation of the Pioneer Pony, sweeping the halls from it; and frequently picking up passengers, usually girls, leading to the rumor that Ralph is a flirt.

Ralph always has a story for everything that happens, and according to cheerleader Sherry Clawson, “makes neat witch sounds.”  It seems that during a Pep Club meeting in which the cheerleaders were giving several yells, sounds reminiscent of a horror movie echoed through the P.A. system.  Needless to say, Ralph was at the mike.

Ralph’s attitude and the students’ and faculty’s feelings for him are probably well expressed by Dave Gaston, Stu-Co President when he said, “Ralph is hard-working, jovial, considerate, and fun-loving.”

Mr. McCune retired in 1971 (1971 Trail Yearbook):

For the full 18 years West High has been open, Mr. Ralph McCune was the Head Custodian. This year he retired after replacing hundreds of light bulbs and sweeping the halls thousands of times. He became the Head Custodian for West even before the school was opened and has done his work faithfully since then. Mixed in with his memories of working are the memories of events such as moving the books out of the library during an emergency and helping a small boy down from the roof of West. Not only did West lose a good custodian this year, but a helpful staff member.