Joseph E. Ralph

Joseph E. Ralph, 80, of Hawesville passed away Sunday March 11, 2018 at his home with family present. Mr. Ralph was born June 17, 1937 in Henderson County to the late James Dester Ralph and Veronica Stallings Ralph. Mr. Ralph served in the U.S. Navy as an Electrician's Mate First Class and was assigned to the USS Moale, the USS Jouett, the USS Albany, and USS Belknap. He retired after 20 years of service and went to work as an electrician for Martin Marietta and retired in 1998 from Commonwealth Aluminum. Joe loved buying and selling cars and owned over 50 of them in his life. Consequently, he enjoyed going to NASCAR races and watching them on TV along with UK basketball. He was a Kentucky Colonel and raised in the Catholic Church.

Mr. Ralph also was preceded in death by his son, Joseph W. Ralph in 2015 and eight of his twelve siblings.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 58 years, Iris Simmons Ralph of Hawesville; granddaughter, Amanda Spoon and husband Kenneth of Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri; two great- grandchildren, Kimber and Kannen Spoon; brothers, Tom Ralph (Marie) of Owensboro and James Ralph (Glenda) of Evansville; sister, Virginia "Polly" Tipton of Owensboro; numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be 4:00 pm Saturday, March 17 at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory with Brother Ray Estes officiating. Visitation will also be Saturday from noon until 4 pm at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may take the form of donations to St. Jude Children Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105.