Ralph Lamar Faulkner

1920 - 2016

Ralph Lamar Faulkner

August 2, 1920 - December 18, 2016

Salem - Ralph Faulkner, 96, passed away on December 18, 2016 at Salem Hospital, following a brief illness.

He was born in Monticello, Georgia, the second of three sons of Lillie and Adrian Faulkner. When he was five years old the family moved to Andalusia, Alabama, where he picked cotton as a child to help buy school clothes, shoes and books. He graduated from Andalusia High School in 1938 and entered college at Troy State Teacher's College the next year, wanting to become a teacher. In 1942 he married Essie Pearl and they had a daughter, Diane. With the disruption of military deployments however, they divorced.

In 1940, rather than waiting to be drafted, he and his best friend enlisted in the Army Signal Corps, being assigned to a Signal Aviation Company at Barksdale Field, LA. In 1942, he graduated from the Signal Corps Officer Candidate School in New Jersey. He excelled at the school and was assigned to OCS as an instructor, before being shipped out to Brisbane, Australia in 1943 and subsequently to General MacArthur's headquarters. After contracting typhus in New Guinea he spent several months recovering back in the United States and six months later he returned to full duty at Holibird Signal Depot, Baltimore, Maryland being assigned as Exec Officer and attaining the rank of Captain.

In 1946, he was released honorably from active duty and immediately went to work for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. In 1947, he married Gwladys West and together they had two children, Lamar and Sandra. Gwladys passed away in 1995.

Over twenty-one years with Goodyear, through new job responsibilities and twelve moves to different States, he rose to a Division Director position. Wanting a change of direction in 1957, he left Goodyear and began a career in data processing in the insurance industry. In 1966, he earned an MBA from UCLA. This eventually brought him to Oregon in 1967, when he was hired as the Director of Data Systems for the State of Oregon. He then transferred to the State Accident Insurance Fund (SAIF) in 1969 as Director of Data Processing and was promoted to President and CEO in 1982. He retired in 1984.

In 1996 he married Beverley and together they enjoyed traveling, most often to southern States to be sure she knew about the gracious life and friendliness of the south, not to mention blackeyed peas and grits.

Ralph was a life-long Duplicate Contract Bridge player, playing as usual, at the Salem Bridge Club just weeks before he passed away. He achieved the Life Master title in 1988 and the Silver Life Master in 2014.

In 2011, he received the Distinguished Graduate Award by the US Army Signal Corps Officer Candidate School Association, which is given annually to one who exemplifies the qualities and successes expected of a graduate. As quoted on the certificate:

"We can all stand a little taller knowing Ralph is one of us."

He was an avid tennis player, a creative woodworker, a lifelong gardener and a skilled crossword puzzle solver. He never lost his infectious passion for storytelling and was a mischievous joke teller. He was an unfailing gentleman and conveyed an optimism and delight with life that never wavered.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Beverley; daughters Diane and Sandra; step-sons Derek and Craig; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Gwladys, his son, Lamar and brothers Herman and Melvin.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at First United Methodist Church, 600 State St, in Salem.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that any remembrance contributions be made to First United Methodist Church, Willson House Retirement Center, 1625 Center St. NE Salem 97301 or an organization of your choosing. Assisting the family is Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.