Dear Donna:

I double checked the SSDI for your query:

RALPH B MEFFORD
Born 01 Sep 1923
Died 05 Jul 2001
(V) information verified with family
Last Residence 94945 (Novato, Marin, CA)
State of Issue Illinois

Do NOT mistake "last residence" with place of death.
Most times, someone does die at the last place of residence.
However, that is no guarantee that is the place of death.

It is not unknown for someone to die on vacation, while visiting friends, or in a hospital out of their residential area.

As the good folks at the Marin County Civic Center have said they have no record of Ralph's death, I would presume
he did not die in Marin County. Unfortunately the California Death Index (CADI) is not online beyond 2000, so
I could not verify whether he died in the state of California.

I would suggest you check for obituaries in San Francisco's
newspapers -- The Chronicle and the Examiner as well as
the Marin Independent Journal. It is possible, but not likely, that he lived in Marin, but died in Sonoma County.
It would be more likely for him to live in Marin and die
in San Francisco County -- major hospitals are located in
the City. However, you could search in Sonoma County as well. Are there any other connections to Sonoma County that
you are aware of or is this just a hopeful grasping at straws? If there is no known link to Sonoma County, I would
move your questions to Marin's County Board as you know he
lived in Novato (94945). The Board Administrator can be requested to move the entire thread re your Ralph Mefford to
the Marin County Board, if there is no connection to Sonoma County. This may better serve your quest.

As the SSDI entry states it has been verified by the family,
perhaps you can find out the location of death from the
Social Security Administration? They should have record of
who the reporting entity was and also a copy of the death
certificate would have been required for proof of death.

Kind Regards,

Lauren Boyd
Novato, California