Wilder, VT – Ralph Gillen Aulis, 88, died April 28, 2011 at the Brookside Nursing Home in Wilder, VT.

He was born January 2, 1923 in Hanover, NH the son of Lewis Hiram and Annie Josephine (Gillen) Aulis. He graduated from Hartford High School before enlisting with the United States Navy during WWII, serving as a machinist in the South Pacific. Upon returning from the war he was married to Helen Petersen in Middlebury, VT. They moved to Norwich where he operated the Clover Leaf Grocery Store for a time. He then began his career with the United States Postal Service and served as the Norwich Postmaster for over twenty years. After retiring, the Aulis's moved to Helen's family home in Salisbury, VT, returning to the Upper Valley in the mid ninety's where they have lived since.

Ralph was a member of the Norwich Lions Club, a volunteer firefighter in Norwich, and a member of the Salisbury Historical Society. He was an outdoorsman who especially enjoyed skiing, camping and working in the woods cutting brush and wood for pleasure. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with family and planning gatherings for them all to enjoy. As a fan of the New York Yankee's Ralph endured a family of Boston Red Sox Fans. He also enjoyed traveling to the Maine coast, reading about history and studying his family's Irish history.

He is survived by his wife of over sixty years, Helen, of Wilder, VT; a son Christopher Aulis of Brookfield, VT; two daughters Patricia Goodman and her husband Dr. David Goodman of Etna, NH and Maureen Aulis of Hanover, NH; as well as three grandchildren Andrew, Ryan, and Kristen. He is predeceased by a sister Evelyn Mayette.

A graveside service will be held Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Holman Cemetery in Salisbury, VT at 4PM. Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction has been entrusted with arrangements.