Ralph Lewis Waddell, LTC US Army (Ret.), 77, passed away Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 after a 10-year battle with cancer.
He was born May 6, 1938 in Greeneville, Tennessee. He grew up on a farm with his parents, Ralph Franklin Waddell and Blanche Mays.
Ralph got his degree at East Tennessee State University, where he met the love of his life, Callie Dora Davis. They married on Aug. 7, 1959. During their 56-plus years of marriage, they had two children, Kenton Waddell (Kathleen) and Maria Waddell. He is also survived by his two grandsons, Daniel and Corey; his brother Ronnie Waddell (Judy); sisters-in-law Blanche Davis, Jessie Kegley (Robert) and Jean Winstead; and brother-in-law Glen Greene; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He served 24 years in the Army, in which he completed two yearlong tours of duty in Vietnam. Serving his country was an honor and a pleasure for him. After retiring from the Army and working 20 years for a private government contracting company, Ralph moved to Wilmington, where he began his last and most-enjoyed “career.” He spent over 10 years volunteering at New Hanover Regional Medical Center Surgical Pavilion.
Ralph was a kind and generous man, a loving husband, father and brother. He was liked and respected by those he worked and volunteered with. He always made people laugh with his crazy sense of humor. If he was needed, he was there. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Services will be held on Friday Feb. 5 at Andrews Mortuary Valley Chapel on College Road. Visitation is at 2 p.m. and the service starts at 3. Interment will take place in Ralph’s home town of Greeneville, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, we are requesting donations to your favorite charity, New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation (Zimmer Clinic or Cardiac Rehab) or Harbor United Methodist Church Embark fund.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
To view the full list of Port City Daily obituaries, click here.
