Ralph Alexander Peeples
Ralph Alexander Peeples
Obituary
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Ralph Peeples Obituary
Ralph was best known locally as a faculty member of the School of Law at Wake Forest University, as the president of council of Parkway United Church of Christ in Winston-Salem, and as the legal advisor for the SHARE Cooperative, a local non-profit.
Ralph was born October 18, 1951 to Rita and Ralph Sr., in Charleston, S.C. He attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School, Bishop England High School, Davidson College, and New York University Law School. Ralph was a National Merit Scholar, a Dana scholar at Davidson, and was a recipient of the prestigious Root-Tilden scholarship at NYU. At Davidson, Ralph was elected president of the Student Government Association, and was active in the anti-war movement.
Upon graduation from NYU he worked for the firm of Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Cleveland, Ohio. He joined the faculty of Wake Forest in 1979, and retired from teaching in 2018.
His career at Wake Forest was a distinguished one. He was the four-time winner of an Excellence in Teaching award, and served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the law school from 1995 to 2000. He established a reputation as one of a small group of scholars nationwide who used statistical and empirical tools to study and evaluate the outcomes of the legal system. Ralph was a leading advocate for simplifying and reducing the tremendous expense of legal proceedings for average citizens. To that end he was instrumental in establishing mediation practices in the state, a process which allowed numerous North Carolinians to avoid costly and lengthy court procedures.
His friends and students knew Ralph's keen (and occasionally sardonic) sense of humor as well as his facility with an astonishing repertoire of Dad Jokes. His exam questions often featured plaintiffs and defendants with the unlikely names of Willie Nelson, Pete Townsend, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and Bert and Ernie, a particularly litigious pair. (To his knowledge, none ever sued for defamation).
Ralph is survived by his wife, Faith Crosby, and four children. Kate resides in Normal, Illinois, Sam in Black Mountain, N.C., and Emma and Michael, both of Greensboro. He is also survived by five siblings - Michael, Stephen, Julie, Martha, and Scott - as well as seven nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at Parkway United Church of Christ in Winston-Salem, NC.
In lieu of flowers, we invite you to donate to one of these organizations using the search tool below, or directly at the following websites:
SHARE Cooperative of Winston Salem: https://www.share-ws.coop
The V Foundation: https://www.v.org
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Ken Zick
June 4, 2023
Ralph and I were proud members of the Law School Associate Dean's circle. For years this group of present and past Associate Deans would gather to share stories, laugh at the predicaments that only Associate Deans could get into, and generally commiserate with one another. Ralph joked that we should found a national organization, the American Association of Associate Deans, but acknowledged that few would admit to being a member. Like everyone who knew him, I relished our encounters. Ralph had a distinct way of putting life into perspective with that wonderful all-knowing smile. I remember one encounter on the quad when I was particularly upset about some inane administrative issue. He listened calmly and smiled until I had exhausted myself. Then he said: "Do you think we will remember anything about it next year?" Ralph had that rare ability to put all things in perspective and focus on the things that really mattered. I'll really miss his wisdom, humor, and that smile. God bless you, Ralph.
Bob Edmunds, Davidson College, Class of 1973
May 22, 2023
Ralph was a wonderful classmate and friend at Davidson. He was someone who, in his own gentle and caring way, would tell me the truth. I thought of him then, and have never stopped thinking of him, as "Uncle Ralph." Gassho Rei.
Anita Conrad
May 19, 2023
I had the good fortune to have Professor Peeples teach me Corporations while in law school; his first-rate teaching was indeed matched if not exceeded by his hilarious sense of humor. One final exam featured the characters from the then-popular BBC series "Fawlty Towers" which made composing one's responses to the questions without snorting and guffawing a real challenge. This lifelong Cleveland Indians (yeah, okay, "Guardians") fan will miss you, Ralph!
Gary R. Williams
May 18, 2023
Ralph Peeples was my friend... I called him "Doctor Peeples," and "My Brother."
He was there for the entire journey to construct the SHARE COOPERATIVE of Winston-Salem. Even when the work was grueling Ralph was tireless, thoughtful. and considerate. Without his multiple contributions SHARE could have failed early.
In many, many ways He was a humble and generous Human Spirit.
I will miss my Good Friend, RALPH ALEXANDER PEEPLES; but I won´t forget him.
Love,
Rev. Gary R. Williams
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Josh H.
May 17, 2023
Professor Peeples taught Torts to my first-year section at Wake Law. He was gracious, kind, and relentless in his efforts to make us laugh. My favorite memory of him is from a morning when he dropped his lesson plan to help us.
Our section had Contracts right before his Torts class. That morning in Contracts class, we were introduced to the Statute of Frauds. We didn´t grasp much of it, and (because the first year of law school is a time of constant and often unreasonable anxiety) our section was convinced that this meant we were doomed to failure, probably on our upcoming Contracts exam and certainly if we ever managed to become lawyers.
Our mood entering Professor Peeples´ Torts class was bleak and anxious. After we didn't laugh at several of his jokes, Professor Peeples eventually asked, "What´s the matter with you guys?" (He seemed certain that his jokes were not the issue.) One student bravely volunteered that we couldn´t understand the Statute of Frauds.
Instead of telling us that we needed to toughen up if we hoped to become lawyers, Professor Peeples spent the rest of class explaining the Statute of Frauds. He cared more about us as people than he did about sticking to the lesson plan he had prepared.
He was an excellent professor and an even better person. My condolences to his family.
BRUCE BECKER
May 17, 2023
For three of my four years at Davidson College I roomed on the same floor within a hundred feet from Ralph Peeples. Our senior year he lived just across the hall, and we ate dinner together every night. Ralph founded an intramural softball team, "The Pope and His Court." Naturally Ralph was "the Pope," the manager. I played centerfield. "Pope" was the nickname that Ralph acquired in 1969 from the residents of our freshman hall, Third Floor, East under circumstances now shrouded in history. Pope loved both the Tribe and the diatribe, the first for reasons of longsuffering and patience. The diatribe because a Davidson education wheedles from one's soul fustian and bombast (we called it "flaming"). Ralph was good at it, perhaps the best, which portended well for his career.
However, the thing that made the Pope special, different from the other glad personalities at Davidson was "extraordinary matter." You matter. I matter. In 1970 he persuaded me to give him an expensive table-top baseball game purchased by the Third East crew because that would matter to his little brothers. Right matters. Injustice matters. Courage counts. People count.
Ten years ago I was trying to get through a deep thicket of problems, and in the mail comes the first letter I had received from Ralph in 20 years. It was short. He reminded me of some shinier days we had together and added some words of encouragement. Extraordinarily, rooting for the Cleveland Indians did not wear Ralph out. He found it in himself to root for us. Faith. His family. The kids. His friends. His students. Ralph was great because of his great heart. What matters to you always takes a part of your heart with it.
San Juan (Pope's nickname for me)/Bruce Becker
Holly Marion
May 17, 2023
I was very fortunate to be on the staff at the WFU law school when Professor Peeples was there. I could also count on his humor and kindness to provide a boost to my day. How few people on earth are so generous with their time and love!
William (Bo) Gray
May 17, 2023
In my experience as a law student, WFU had no weak, soft or lame professors. Excellent. Across the board. Each and every one. Nonetheless, when it came to registering for classes, I followed one rule. Identify whatever classes were being taught by Ralph Peeples, Charlie Rose and George Walker and take them. I loved law school. Who couldn't with these gentlemen in your life every week. Admittedly, when I left the nest, I went full bore into the practice of law and had limited contact with any of these "All Time Great Mentors," but I absorbed all of the law they imparted upon me and much more. Even with limited contact over the years, including a random encounter at a Braves game in Atlanta and not so random calls for legal consults, Prof. Peeples became Ralph Peeples. What a true gem, the loss of which has left the world with less lustre. The hole in my heart from this loss is raw and I will greatly miss not being a phone call away. Life is too short and a really, really good one is gone. God Bless.
Jessica Dempsey
May 17, 2023
Dean Peeples was brilliant and kind and funny. I learned so much in his mediation course. When I failed the bar exam on my first attempt, while going through a difficult break up and many life changes after law school, he was so kind and supportive. I had secured a job at a top firm but was deeply distraught it would be taken away. He invited me back to campus, showed genuine empathy and concern for my mental health, went over the exam with me and congratulated me when I passed in February. I will never forget his kindness. What a loss for Wake Law. My deepest condolences to his family.
Katy Aultman
May 17, 2023
Prof. Peeples epitomized everything that drew me to Wake Forest Law. His door was always open, and he found a way to help you through any problem with kindness and a little laughter. I value the time I spent working with him on his ADR research. In my years as a litigator since law school, I've truly come to appreciate the importance of his lessons on mediation. More importantly, his friendship and support softened the challenges of law school. I will forever appreciate the gift of his time in my life.
Chris Geis
May 16, 2023
Dean Peeples was a prince of a man. Last summer, after reading about our inaugural Police Athletic League in East Winston, he came out and umpired the rest of the season under the hot summer sun -- wearing his Cleveland Indians cap, of course. One never saw a happier man.
He was a great professor. He taught me a valuable lesson in my mediations course that I used four years later in a high-profile incident in Thailand while on active duty in the Navy: When negotiating a resolution, always try to find a way to preserve the other side's dignity, even if you're going to get what you want in the end. It worked for us. I thought he would approve.
His passing is a real loss to our community. God Bless.
Sam Matthews
May 16, 2023
Ralph served the Shepherd's Center and many Medicare beneficiaries in our community as a devoted Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselor. It was my privilege to know him well and enjoyed our many conversations along the way. I am so sorry for his passing. We will surely miss him.
Sam Matthews, The Shepherd's Center of Greater Winston-Salem
Edwin Williamson
May 16, 2023
Professor Peeples assisted me greatly during my year as co-editor and organizer of the 1989 Law Review Business Symposium. Though I barely knew what I was doing and only had a cursory knowledge of the Symposium topics that year, he treated me as an equal and with an immense amount of respect, which I probably didn't deserve. That is my lasting memory of him.
Charley Rose
May 16, 2023
The most honest tribute to Ralph is that he was a truly authentic human being! He was the same Ralph Peeples whether he was teaching a class, participating in a faculty discussion, traveling to Cleveland for a baseball game, or reminiscing about old times. His dry humor, his sharp intellect, and his keen sense of the moment was ever present. He was truly committed to his students as well as his empirical research. It was my genuine pleasure to serve with Ralph during his years at Wake and to be his friend.-Charley Rose
Pat Starkey
May 15, 2023
Dean Peeples was a joy to work with at WFU. He was one of a kind!
Bob and Kathie Walsh
May 15, 2023
Ralph Peeples was one of the all-time great Wake Forest faculty members. Ralph was an extremely bright, kind, and caring person. He was a faculty leader and beloved by his students and colleagues. His student faculty evaluations were at the highest level as was evidenced by his winning the teaching excellence award four times. He had a wonderful sense of humor that could often bring discussions back into focus.. In his scholarship, Ralph was an early advocate of alternative dispute resolution and had a tremendous effect in bringing mediation to North Carolina earlier than other states. When he was Executive Academic Associate Dean, it was a pleasure to work with him every day.. If the Cleveland Indians win the World Series in the next few years, I know it will be because of Ralph's advocacy in heaven. I know that all who knew him will miss him greatly.
Bob
Carol Anderson
May 15, 2023
I loved my dear colleague Ralph Peeples. I don´t know anyone who didn´t, either students or faculty. He made us laugh, he always had time to listen, and he added much-needed levity to the business of teaching and learning the law. I am heartbroken to hear of his passing but some solace in knowing he will suffer no more.
Francisco Morales
May 15, 2023
Professor Peeples was a truly remarkable person and faculty member at Wake Forest Law School. His sense of humor, congeniality, and love for the law were contagious. May he rest in peace knowing how many lives he positively impacted.
Deborah E Suess
May 15, 2023
Holding the Peeples family in the Light.
Cynthia Ring
May 14, 2023
Ralph was one of the sweetest, kindest people I had the pleasure of working with at Wake Forest. I was his Administrative Assistant from the day I arrived at WFU up until the day he retired. Conversations with Ralph were often the highlight of my day, he could make a day brighter just by walking in the room. His spirit was infectious, there wasn't a time you talked with him he didn't make you laugh or smile. I will always remember Ralph as a kindhearted friend. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Alan Palmiter
May 14, 2023
Ralph meant a lot to me. We were faculty buddies - he had my back and i his. I so liked when he called me by my last name.
Ralph said many things to me that I carry in my heart. Toward the end of his stint as associate dean, he told me, "This job has taught me that our students also have lives - many with great difficulties." Ralph's compassion was hard-wired.
So was his sense of humor. It was full-body humor, with grandiose gestures and laughter that came from the belly. Ralph's was humor with compassion.
Terry Hummel
May 14, 2023
Ralph´s younger brother Steve once told me that be chose to attend Davidson College purely because that´s where Ralph had done his undergrad studies. If Ralph made a choice, it was absolutely the right one. Because Steve followed in his older brother´s footsteps, there are countless Davidson `77 classmates who now consider Steve to be among their very best friends in the world. What better legacy can there be? Thank you, Ralph, and to his siblings and all who loved him, godspeed on your journey ahead, with warm memories of a life well lived and in service to others. Peace and love to you all.
Laura H.
May 13, 2023
I'm Laura and a friend of his kids Emma and Michael. I never met Ralph, but heard stories from Emma and Michael. They always spoke so well of him and it was great to see their love for him through their stories. And reading about the other things he did in his life was neat too. He must have had a wonderful impact on so many people, and obviously he will be missed greatly. I'm so sorry for the loss and the pain it brings. But hopefully he will still live on in the hearts of all those he knew!
Bob Robinson
May 13, 2023
A wonderful man. A wonderful friend. And a presence who will be sorely missed.
Dick Clay
May 13, 2023
Ralph was a blockbuster person. Smart, witty, kind, direct, candid, invariably interesting and engaging. A life well lived. I miss him. All of us do. There is so much to celebrate and treasure and emulate. Sincerely, Dick Clay Davidson College, 1973
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