Ralph Smith Jr.

Obituary: Mr. Ralph Edward Smith, Jr. 64, of Kannapolis went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, June 16, 2017 at his residence, surrounded by his family and friends following a long battle with cancer. Ralph was born October 7, 1952 in Cabarrus County, NC 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 Roy 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 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at the Westside Church of the Nazarene conducted by Rev. Jonathan Parrish and Rev. 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, 2017 from 6:00 P.M.-9:00 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, SC. 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 Adams of Kannapolis. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westside Church of the Nazarene, 4700 Isenhour Road, Kannapolis, NC 28081, ATTN: 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 to www.whitleysfuneralhome.com
Visitation: 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. Tuesday June 20, 2017 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: 11:00 A.M. Wednesday June 21, 2017 Westside Church of the Nazarene

Interment: West Lawn Memorial Park China Grove, N.C.