Norman Russell Ralph

Norman Russell Ralph, 81, of Jayess, died February 13, 2018, after complications from surgery. He was born December 24, 1936, in Spencer, Iowa, to the late Robert and Frances Ralph. He was the older brother to Carl Dean Ralph, who preceded him in death, and Robert Amos Ralph (Liala) of Chandler, Arizona.
Norman was the first in his family to attend college and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Practical Christian Training from Bob Jones University of Greenville, South Carolina. He pastored churches in Wichita, Kansas, Higginsville, Missouri and Columbia, Missouri and preached the Word of God in Greenville, Liberty, Missouri and Jayess as needed in full-time, bi-vocational, youth and interim pastorates. He was willing to do whatever was needed within the church in Mandeville, Lousiana, or the church he was currently attending. He retired from Montgomery Elevator Company in 1995, where he worked as an elevator and escalator service technician. He was an avid Ham Radio Operator from his teens and attained the highest level of operating privileges, Amateur Extra. He enjoyed sailing the sailboat that he restored and authored articles for several sailing and amateur radio magazines, newspapers and other periodicals. He loved to play bluegrass music, wrote and emailed a monthly devotional thought to many, and was a loving husband, father and grandfather. His grandson described him as “the most godly and mechanically versatile man I know. He always knew what the Bible taught, was a preacher for a time, wrote devotionals which he would email out, and was always involved in his church, and yet he was always accepting and never judgemental. When it came to mechanical aptitude he had the skills and knowledge that only a farm boy possesses. He retired from the elevator trade, restored a sailboat in his backyard, was always building and improving the barn. Even his table saw was one he built himself. He truly was a jack of all trades. He also had a great respect for nature, from campfires, camping and canoe trips to hunting, fishing and shooting. He enjoyed spending his time in the outdoors.”
Survivors include his wife, Jeanette Miriam Lacks Ralph; son, Norman Ralph, Jr. (Marrena); son, Robert Ralph (Cyndi); grandchildren, Paul Ralph (Susan), Timothy Ralph (Alyssa), Peter Ralph (Amber), Andrew Ralph, Arrena Ralph and Brant Ralph and great-granddaughter Isabelle Ralph. He was excited about the arrival of another great-grandchild later this year.
A memorial service of his life was held Sunday, February 18, 2018, at Sartinville United Methodist Church in Jayess.