John Ralph's Obituary
John Leon Ralph, aged 60, of Englewood, Missouri, passed away on August 17, 2022, after a long and tenacious battle with kidney disease. Known as Leon by his family and friends, he was born in Columbia, Missouri on November 6, 1961, to John and Ada (Redden) Ralph.
Leon grew up in Ashland and graduated from Southern Boone County High School in 1980, where he had participated in Spanish Club and FFA. Leon enlisted in the U.S. Marines after high school and entered basic training at San Diego, California. After receiving an honorable medical discharge, Leon returned to mid-Missouri and worked at Tri Con Industries for many years and later with Schneider Electric.
Leon preferred back roads and country living. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and learned both from his uncles John Howard Redden and the late Elmer Redden. Leon loved all genres of music, particularly rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and jazz.
Leon was named after his uncle Leon Stapleton, of Kansas City. He is survived by his mother Ada Ralph and sister Mary Ralph, of Ashland; brother Tim (Loretta) Ralph, of Columbia, sister Paula (Art) Ralph Levy of Maryland, four nieces, one nephew, four great-nephews, a great niece, and a host of Ralph, Redden, Ray, and Stapleton cousins.
Leon was preceded in death by his grandparents Johnnie and Willie Mae Redden and by his father John Ralph, and his sister Janice Ralph.
Funeral arrangements managed by H.T. May and Sons will be held on Friday, August 26, at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 204 E. Ash Street, Columbia, MO. Visitation at 10:00 a.m. will be followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. and interment at Memorial Park Cemetery, Columbia, Missouri. Donations to kidney research are welcome in lieu of flowers. Services will be live streamed at 11:00 AM through the HT May & Son Funeral Home Facebook page and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/htmayfuneralhome.
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