DOWNEY - Ralph Lewis Englund, an accomplished baker who grew up during the Great Depression, died peacefully Nov. 20 at Downey Community Health Center.He was born in Polk, Neb., on May 20, 1913, the middle child of five to Emil and Anna Englund. After graduating in 1931 from Chappell High School, he went to Scottsbluff Junior College to study and play collegiate football. Because of the hardships of the Great Depression, Englund left Nebraska and hitchhiked to California and stayed with relatives. He managed to find part-time jobs in bakers and eventually became a master baker. He met Emma Byrd in 1934 and as a working couple they saved and opened their own bakery in 1940, Mrs. Englund's Home Bakery, on Manchester and Broadway avenues in South Los Angeles. Emma was a partner in all aspects of the business and won many Gold Cup awards for her cake decorating. Ralph was elected to the position of president of the Master Bakers Association of California from 1945-46, and served for five years on the board of the California Youth Authority Institute for Men in Chino. After selling the bakery, Englund continued to work in the bakery industry another 10 years before becoming a salesman for Karps, Snyder and finally Coast Novelty. He retired at age 89. Englund traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He was also active with the local Masonic Order and earlier with the Shriners. He was predeceased by his wife in 1986. He is survived by his daughter and two sons, Jenise Englund Javaher, Robert Englund (wife Lynn) and James Englund; and five grandchildren, Yvette and Troy Javaher, and Alicia, Kristin and Michael Englund. A celebration of life in Ralph Englund's honor will take place March 20 at 1 p.m. at Rossmoor Pastries, 2325 Redondo Ave., in Signal Hill.

********** Published: March 17, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 48