Ralph Gilbert Falcone

Ralph Gilbert Falcone passed away peacefully, of natural causes on April 28 at the age of 88 in Lincoln, NE. A resident of Lincoln, he was born in Washington, D.C. and lived most of his life in Northern Virginia.

Ralph was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Gonzaga High School, graduating from Falls Church High School in Fairfax County, VA in 1955. He served four years in the United States Navy in the late fifties, predominately on Saratoga Class aircraft carriers. Upon discharge from the service, he worked on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Page interning with Idaho Senator Frank Church. He attended George Washington University, working during the day and taking classes at night. He married Barbara Simpkins in 1962 and had a son, Tony in 1963. His career was in mortgage banking, and he worked for several Washington area firms in both commercial and residential real estate eventually forming his own company, Custom Mortgage. In the early 2000s, he and Barbara left their home of 35 years in Alexandria, and moved to her hometown of Bedford, VA to be closer to her family. They had recently relocated to Lincoln to be with their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. Ralph loved the ocean and enjoyed reading, especially history and mysteries.

He lived a full and remarkable life, marked by a larger-than-life personality that made him unforgettable. He was a gifted storyteller whose many adventures, experiences, and memorable tales brought laughter and connection to family and friends alike. Ralph’s unmistakable presence left a lasting impression on countless people throughout his life, and he will be remembered not only for the stories he told, but for the life he so vividly lived.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Tony and Lori (Payne) Falcone; three grandchildren, Elizabeth, Maria, and Julia; two sisters Janet (Falcone) Hillyer and Margaret (Peggy) (Falcone) Miller; sister and brother-in-law Lynn Danner (Simpkins) and Gregg Bailey and several nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Margaret (Johnston) Falcone; his wife of sixty years Barbara Lee (Simpkins) Falcone; brothers-in-law Charles Hillyer and Kim Miller; and brother and sister-in-law, Robert (Gardner) Jr., and Letha Simpkins.