Ralph H. Alexander, Jr. ’49 of Charlotte, died Monday, August 12, 2013, at Southminster Retirement Community.
Born on December 21, 1927, Ralph grew up in Marion, NC the son of Nelle Blanton Alexander and Ralph Houston Alexander. He attended Marion schools, Capital Page School (while he was a page for the 1941-42 U.S. Congress), Virginia Episcopal School and Davidson College (Class of 1949).
In 2009, Davidson’s Alumni Association awarded Ralph its annual Appreciation Award. A veteran of the armed services, Ralph entered the Air Force in 1950, was accepted into Officer Candidate School (OCS) and rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. Ralph began his career by working in sales for Herald Press in Charlotte.
He was then recruited for a new division of the company named Package Products, which became Engraph and was later sold to Sonoco Products. Ralph was Sales Manager and Director of Marketing for these packaging companies.
Ralph’s leadership extended beyond business to the work of his church, Myers Park Baptist, and his community. Along with Dr. Jonnie McLeod and Dr. George Barrett, he helped start Open House, a drug counseling and treatment center.
At church, he was active in a weekly Men’s book group, initiated the Bible Workbench program, and worked to establish the Cornwell Center. He also taught adult church school classes and was a deacon. Ralph was passionate about Davidson College, his family, and his church. He was a man of vision and compassion.
Ralph is survived by his wife of 62 years, Julia Upchurch Alexander, and their three sons; Lex Alexander and his wife Ann, of Chapel Hill; Doug Alexander of Atlanta; and Chuck Alexander and his wife, Leslie of Greensboro.
He also leaves six grandchildren; Emily Poteat Alexander, Gillian Logan Alexander, Douglass Taylor Alexander, Edward Houston Alexander, Charles McNeill Alexander, and Charlotte Avery Alexander and one great-grandchild, Zadie Alexander Chatman.
The Alexander family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Southminster and Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte for their excellent care of Ralph during his illness.
A Memorial Service, conducted by Dr. Stephen Shoemaker, will be held at Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Road, Charlotte on Saturday, August 17, 2013, at 1:00 pm.
Memorial contributions may be made to Myers Park Baptist Church, The Southminster Foundation, 8919 Park Road, Charlotte, 28210 and Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte, 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, 28204. T.H. Robertson Funeral and Cremation Service served the family.