
WILMINGTON — Ralph James “Jim” Rasberry Jr., 80, died Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at NHRMC.
He was born July 21, 1936, in Whiteville, N.C., the son of the late Rev. Ralph James Rasberry Sr. and Vera Mae Maultsby Rasberry.
Jim graduated from Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Va. He worked eight years with H. Childs Shoe Company, Pittsburgh, Penn., for which he open and closed stores in various locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. During this time, he married his sweetheart and started his loving family.
He served in U.S. Army Reserve for six years. Jim went into business for himself and owned and operated JaRon Drive-in fast-food restaurant in Rockingham, N.C., for over 15 years. He also sold fast-food equipment and franchised fast-food restaurants. He enjoyed retirement with family while living at Wrightsville Beach and later in Wilmington. He was a member of College Acres Baptist Church and former member of Pine Valley Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Phyllis Hylton Rasberry of the home; daughter, Jamie R. Fowler of Willard, N.C.; son, Ronald J. Rasberry, and his wife, Belva Jane, of Cary, N.C.; one sister, Mary Catherine Rasberry of Hyattsville, Md.; six grandchildren, Melissa Garrison, and her husband, Gary, of Wadesboro, N.C., Danielle Fowler of Surf City, N.C., Jesse Fowler, and his wife, Brendi of Fort Meade, Md., and Catherine, Andrew and Charles Rasberry, all of Cary, N.C.; and four great-grandchildren, Kalysta and Alia Garrison, Jace and Mason Fowler.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at College Acres Baptist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to College Acres Baptist Church in Jim’s memory.