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- !CENSUS:1950 Orange Co., NC Eno Township ED 68-26 # 310 *
!OBIT:Durham Herald
BESSEMER CITY - Ralph Donald Queen, 67, of 910 Dameron Road, Bessemer City, died November 21, 2008, at Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia. He was born January 5, 1941, in McDowell County to Audrey Viola Curd Queen of Durham and the late Ray Walker Queen.
Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Sisk-Butler Funeral Home Chapel, Bessemer City, officiated by the Rev. William D. Gibson. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the funeral home.
Ralph was born in Marion on January 5, 1941. He lived and grew up in Hillsborough, and went to Hillsborough High School. Afterwards he joined the United States Air Force in 1959, where he served until 1965. While in the USAF he trained and worked as an Aircraft Mechanic and was stationed at Craig AFB in Selma, Ala.
After returning to NC, and while still serving as an inactive reservist with the AF, Ralph met his future wife, Joanne Penley and her son Chuckie. They later married in 1966 and the family grew to include four children: Chuck, Lori, Donald and Michael.
Ralph's career included working as a machinist, mechanic and in quality control for various companies. He was a very intelligent and creative man who, during his life, invented various products and ideas.
Ralph was also very family oriented, staying close to his parents, Ray and Audrey Queen, and the family farm, where he worked diligently with his brothers: Wayne, Tommy and Earl to help maintain the farm.
Later in life Ralph relocated to the Charlotte area to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He leaves behind four children as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He will always be remembered as a loving son, brother, father, grandfather and friend.
In addition to his mother, survivors include sons, Donald Queen and wife, Renae, of Bessemer City, Michael Queen and wife, Tifnie of Whitsett; daughter, Lori Watts, and husband, Timothy, of Bessemer City; step-son, Chuck Wilson and wife, Beth, of Nashville, Tenn.; brothers, Wayne Queen of Creedmore, Tommy Queen of Durham, Earl Queen and wife, Brenda, of Swansboro; numerous grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joanne Penley Queen and father, Ray Walker Queen.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Gaston Hospice, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia, NC 28054.
To offer condolences, please visit www.siskbutler.com. Arrangements are by Sisk-Butler Funeral Home, Bessemer City.
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1941 - 2008 (67 years)
