KANNAPOLIS Mr. Ralph Edward Smith Jr., 64, of Kannapolis, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Friday, June 16, 2017, at his residence, surrounded by his family and friends, following a long battle with cancer. Ralph was born Oct. 7, 1952, in Cabarrus County, a son of the late Ralph "Buck" Smith Sr. and the late Mary Beaver Smith. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Becky Dixon and Sharon Lawson, grandmother "Grandmaw" Ruth Smith and nephew, Ray Dixon. Ralph was a graduate of South Rowan High School. He was employed with Cannon Mills, Plt. #1, crash dept. for 25 years. He later was employed by Binswanger Glass Company until his retirement in 2007, due to ill health. He was an active member of the Westside Church of the Nazarene where he was a youth minister for 30 years. Ralph loved his church and all of his teens very much. He was a dedicated man and would do anything for anyone. He received two awards from this church. He received the NC NYI award in recognition for lifetime service to teens of the NC District and the Distinguished Service Award for his lifelong dedication, commitment and faithful service to his church. Ralph was also very involved with the Kannapolis Dixie Youth Baseball League for 35 years. He became a part of the league in 1982 until 2017, where he put in numerous hours of work. He always had to make sure the fields looked their best. As part of the Dixie Youth he has served as coach, president, vice-president, and he has also served as assistant district director and district director over district 4 for 15 years. He always said that he did it for the kids. He loved seeing the smiles on all the kids' faces. Ralph also was a football and basketball coach for the Boys Club for many years. He received many awards over the years, including Coach of the Year Award from the Boys Club. He was inducted into the Danny Jones Club for his outstanding service and years of dedication to Kannapolis Dixie Youth. He loved fishing, gardening, coaching baseball, church, being with his teens, and always spending time with family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 21, at the Westside Church of the Nazarene conducted by the Revs. Jonathan Parrish and Charles Savage. He will lie in state 30 minutes prior to final rites. Interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park in China Grove. The family will receive friends at Whitley's Funeral Home Tuesday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. At other times, they will be at the residence. Survivors include one daughter, Beth Allen (Herman) of Kannapolis; one son, Ralph Smith III (Amanda) of West Jefferson; six grandchildren, Christopher and Ryan Allen of Kannapolis, Kylie and Ethan of West Jefferson, Alexas Burnett of Kannapolis, Corporal Dylan Rizzo, USMC, stationed in Beaufort, S.C.; two sisters, Lisa Arnette of Kannapolis and Nancy Clark of Concord. Also surviving are 16 nieces and nephews; 36 great-nieces and nephews, who he loved very much and best friend and brother for life, Butch Adam of Kannapolis. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westside Church of the Nazarene, 4700 Isenhour Rd., Kannapolis, NC 28081, ATT: NYI teens or church; or the NC Dixie Youth Baseball Scholarship, 190 Sage Lane, Madison Heights, Va. 24572. The family would like to express their special thanks to Tucker Hospice House and a very special thanks to Adrienne Massello, RN, for their support during this time. Online condolences may be sent at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
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So sorry for the lost of a very nice and loving man to his family and church!
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