Ralph F. Penland Sr.

Ralph Fairchild Penland Sr., 91, Florence, Ala., died Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2002, after a brief illness. He was a courteous gentleman who lived by his principles.The graveside service will be Saturday, Feb. 23, 2002, at 2:30 p.m. in Greenview Memorial Park, with the Rev. Irving Rudolph officiating. The family will visit with friends at 2 p.m. at the graveside before the service.Mr. Penland was born in Asheville, N.C. He finished elementary and high school in Jackson, Tenn., and graduated with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. There, he became a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha National fraternity.He and his wife Margaret moved to Florence in 1941. He has been a member of First Presbyterian Church in Florence ever since. He was employed by Reynolds Metals Co. as a senior engineer for 35 years, and he retired in 1976. During his retirement, he served as a bailiff in the Lauderdale County District Court for 15 years, until 1991. He was an avid amateur radio operator, and was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership for his meritorious service and loyalty to the cause of amateur radio in 1999. WA4HRV will be greatly missed.He is survived by sons, Ralph F. Penland Jr. and wife, Nancy, of Boston, Mass., William Lyman Penland and wife, Marti, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Richard Mitchell Penland of Florence; loving daughter, Marguerite Getaz Penland of Florence; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brother, Leonard G. Penland, of Waynesboro, Va.He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Pattie Penland; wife, Margaret Lyman Penland.Honorary pallbearers will be Carl Compton, Julius Fleming, Wilford Doss, Ludwig Lesch, George Megar and Art Cunningham of First Presbyterian Church, Florence.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice, the Presbyterian Church of Florence, Ala., or the Shoals Symphony Orchestra.Greenview Funeral Home of Florence is directing.