When Ralph Erwin Greene was born on 17 September 1896, in Brush Creek, Brush Creek Township, Muskingum, Ohio, United States, his father, John Edmond Greene, was 41 and his mother, Elizabeth Susanna Swingle, was 35. He married Alice Wood on 28 August 1926, in Franklin, Ohio, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. He lived in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, United States in 1910 and Franklinton, Franklin, Ohio, United States in 1930. He registered for military service in 1918. He died on 5 February 1956, in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States, at the age of 59, and was buried in Sunset Cemetery, Galloway, Franklin, Ohio, United States.