Ralph Starling Bender, who passed away after a brief illness on January 16, 2022, was born on February 16, 1940, in Midway, North Carolina, the son of Dr. John R. Bender and Louise Leonard Zimmerman Bender. He is survived by Sherrie Rogers Bender, his wife of 22 years, daughter Lisa Mansfield and husband Carey, daughter Tina Bradshaw and husband Jesson, stepdaughter Christie Skinner and husband Danny, stepdaughter Stacie Biggs and husband Brent, stepdaughter Julie Williams, and grandchildren Reagan Mansfield, Madison Skinner, AJ Bradshaw, Harrison Mansfield, Nicholas Bradshaw, Samantha Skinner, Maxwell Biggs, Mary Kate Bradshaw, and Zachary Biggs. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Kay McMahon Bender, and brothers John Robert (Bob) and Harold Bender.
Ralph grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, attended Summit School, Ardmore Elementary, and R.J. Reynolds High School where he was manager of the football and baseball teams, member of the Key Club, Monogram Club, Student Council and Vice President of the Senior Class. After high school, he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduated in 1962 with an AB in English Degree. While at UNC, he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, President of his Junior year, Recording Secretary of the Interfraternity Council, and member of the Order of the Minotaurs and Gorgon’s Head Lodge. After college, Ralph attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in the MBA Graduate Program. In 1964, he enlisted in the US Army Reserve, served six months active duty and 5 ½ years in reserve duty.
He started his business career in the Management Training Program with Metropolitan Life Insurance and moved to Houston. A variety of other jobs and business ventures took him to St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta and back to Houston where he lived until his death. Before retiring in 2017, Ralph proudly owned and operated Applied Waste Solutions, Inc., an environmental remediation firm, for 23 years.
In his nearly 82 years of life, Ralph had many titles, son – brother – Dad – stepdad – husband – father-in-law – Mr. B – Uncle Ralph – Papa – brother-in-law – friend – mentor – entrepreneur –traveler – confidante – conservative – volunteer. Whatever you called him, when you called him, it would be the UNC Fight Song ringing on his phone to let him know. He was a true Southern gentleman. He loved his life, his God and his country. He knew he was blessed and lived every day to the fullest.
Services will be held on Friday, January 28, 2022, 2:30 PM at Brookside Funeral Home – Cypress Creek, 9149 Hwy 6 N, Houston, TX 77095. Ralph was a proud veteran. He was “inspired and awed” by the selfless people who volunteer at Camp Hope. In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation or a gift of time in his memory to this organization that he thought so much of.
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