Ralph A. Farrow Jr.

October 25, 1937 – September 3, 2025

Ralph Austin Farrow, Jr., 87, of Goodyear, Arizona, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2025.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 25, 1937, to Ralph Austin Farrow, Sr. and Dorothy E. (Pike) Farrow, Ralph grew up in the forested town of North Scituate, RI. Known as “Austin” to his family in his early years, he was a curious, studious child who loved history, newspapers, and time spent at the Providence library.

He graduated from Classical High School in Providence, RI in 1955. As a teenager, he worked summers at Bonnet Shores Beach Club in Narragansett, RI, where he witnessed the devastation of Hurricane Carol in 1954 — an experience he recalled vividly throughout his life.

Ralph went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1959 and later completed a Master of Science at the University of Connecticut in 1964. A lifelong learner, he carried with him a love of problem-solving and intellectual curiosity.

During graduate school, Ralph met the love of his life, Vanessa Elise Smith, an art teacher from Syracuse, NY. Introduced on a blind date, they quickly formed a deep connection and were married on July 24, 1965, at Bellevue Heights Methodist Church in Syracuse, NY in a ceremony officiated by Vanessa’s father, a retired pastor. The couple honeymooned in Montego Bay, Jamaica, having won an all-expenses-paid trip through a local bridal show contest, an adventure they remembered fondly.

Ralph began his career in 1964, as an electrical engineer in the sonar systems division at Raytheon, with assignments in Marlborough, MA, and Portsmouth, RI. In 1996 he joined Draco, another defense contractor, where he worked until his retirement in 2004. His work contributed to advancements in defense technology during a critical period in American history.

Proud of his Rhode Island heritage, Ralph was a descendant of Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, and a 19th-century whaling ship captain. These roots inspired his lifelong passion for genealogy, history, and New England culture.

After retiring, Ralph relocated to Arizona, where he enjoyed the sunshine, reading, genealogy research and keeping close connections with his children. He was known for his quiet strength, sharp mind, dry wit, and deep devotion to family.

Ralph was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Vanessa, with whom he shared fifty-four years of marriage. He is survived by his son, William S. Farrow; his daughter, Wendy L. Martinez (Joe S. Martinez); his grandson, Joey Austin Martinez; his sister, Janet E. King; and many extended family members and friends who will remember him with love and gratitude.

Services

A visitation will be held on Friday September 19, 2025, from 11:00am to 12:00pm and a Funeral Service from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 W Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301. A Graveside Service will follow from 1:00pm to 1:30pm at Resthaven Park Cemetery, 6450 W Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301.