Ralph W Thomas

Ralph W. Thomas was born in Rockford, AL on August 28, 1923 to Arthur Patrick Thomas and Evie Lee Murchison Thomas. He grew up and attended school there. Upon graduation from high school, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds farm team and played semi-pro baseball for two seasons before the start of World War II. He married his high school sweetheart, Evelyn Beaty, then joined the Navy and served in the Pacific on an LST named the Portunas. After the war, he attended college at Howard College, now Samford University. After graduation, he moved his family to Sylacauga, taught science and coached basketball, baseball, football, and tennis at Fayetteville High School before he accepted the position of Athletic Director at the Birmingham Jewish Community Center. While at the JCC, Coach cared for and touched the lives of many people until he retired from the Levite Jewish Community Center after more than fifty years. He and his wife recently celebrated seventy years of married bliss.He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Evelyn, four daughters, Beverly (Ron) Hyche of Thorsby, AL, Juanita (Richard) Hall of Hoover, AL, Patty (Herschel) Bingham of Jemison, AL, and Sherri (JR) Moehle of Pensacola, FL; twelve grandchildren, Kimberly (Crist) Sperling of Gardendale, AL., Steve (Kristi) Hyche of Thorsby, AL, Amy (Shannon) Porter and Debbie (Shawn) Knowles of Jemison, AL., Jennifer (Frank) Amnott of Dallas, TX, Michael (Amanda) Moehle, Jonathan, Daniel, Thomas, Evelyn, Elisabeth, and Julia Moehle of Pensacola, FL;seven great-grandchildren, Claire Clemmons, Tuscaloosa, AL, Baileigh Hyche of Thorsby, Al, Abigail and Sophie Porter, Kelcie, Dylan, and Bella Knowles of Jemison, AL; three step-great-grandchildren, Ben and Sally Sperling of Birmingham, AL, and Samantha Childers Hyche of Thorsby. The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at Southern Heritage Funeral Home from 5:00pm until 8:00pm. Graveside Services will be on Friday, August 9, 2013 at 11:00am at Southern Heritage Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to a charity of you choice.