Dr. Ralph Farris Joseph, 87 of Walnut Ridge passed from this life Thursday at St. Bernard’s Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.
Born December 15, 1924 in Black Rock to Frank and Fern Waldron Joseph he was a lifelong resident of Lawrence County and graduated from Black Rock High School as Valedictorian of his class in 1942. He attended Arkansas State University for 2 years and then was accepted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. He graduated in 1947 from the University of Medical Sciences with his Doctor of Medicine Degree and started his practice in Walnut Ridge in 1948. He was a lifetime member of the medical staff at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and was instrumental in the founding of the hospital. He currently continued to practice medicine and was the founder of the Ralph Joseph Youth Leadership Program in Lawrence County. He was a member of the Rotary Club and served many years with the Walnut Ridge Airport Commission. He had received numerous awards and recognitions through the years for his medical and civic leadership. He was an elder and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Walnut Ridge.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Gayola Joseph and one daughter, Patricia Joseph.
He is survived by his wife, Billie Joseph of the home; sons, Dr. Ralph Joseph II of Little Rock and Dr. William Joseph and wife Diane of Little Rock; sister, Imogene Snodgrass of Jonesboro; six grandchildren, Patrick Joseph, Elizabeth Joseph, Eric Joseph, Zachary Joseph, Alex Joseph and Lauren Joseph.
Funeral Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut Ridge with Susan Weeks and Debbie Spangler officiating. Burial will follow in Lawrence Memorial Park under the direction of House Gregg Funeral Home of Walnut Ridge.
Visitation will be Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations to be made to the the Ralph Joseph Leadership Program or the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut Ridge.
