John Henry Ralph

John Henry Ralph, 86, retired employee of Dupont and TVA, died Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at his residence on Azalea Drive. A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Friday at Beech Historic Cemetery in Hendersonville with Rev. Malcomb Patton officiating. Military honors will be provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4:00 - 8:00 at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Friday after the service at Beech Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to Beech Historic Cemetery, 3216 Long Hollow Pike, Hendersonville, TN 37075. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Davidson County native was the son of the late Albert Alexander Ralph and Effie Ellen Hall Ralph. His first wife Frances Maylene Weakley Ralph preceded him in death on September 8, 1987 after forty-three years of marriage. On March 15, 1988, he married Mildred Annette Bennett Ralph of Portland, Tennessee. He was a graduate of Gallatin High School and earned his Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. During World War II, he served with the U S Army/Air Corps, the 5th Air Force, 39th Fighter Squadron, as a Radio Tech on P-51 Mustangs in the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines and Japan. Mr. Ralph was a member of Beech Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville. He was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Gloria (Frank) Dale and Frances Darnise Ralph, both of Columbia; three grandchildren, John Kittrell (Crissy) Dale of Newnan, Georgia; Frank Jordan Dale and Mary Frances Dale, all of Columbia; five step-children, Marie Dickinson, James T. Adamson, III, Laura Britton, Julie Williams, J. Adamson; nine step grandchildren; and one sister, Jane (Bill) Baker of Louisville, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by one brother, Gerald Ralph. Pallbearers will be Charles E. Webster and family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Hickman, Billy Patrick, Bill Dennis, Harvey Moore, Woodrow "Woody" Horton, Jo Ann Gardner, Bob Jennings, Kathy Tidwell, and Dr. Gaylon Harris. The family would like to extend a special thanks to caregivers Linda Brown, Diane Meachum, and Hospice of the Highland Rim.