Ralph D. Busbee

Ralph Donald Busbee, 85, was born April 12, 1935 in Columbia, South Carolina. Ralph was taken in the arms of his loving savior, Jesus to his final resting home in heaven Sunday, June 28, 2020. There he was reunited with the love of his life, the late Judith Ann Pedrick Busbee, of which they shared 48 years of marriage and living life together. He was her caregiver until her death in 2006. He was the son of the late Harvey Dana Busbee and Lilly Ruth Jones Busbee.

Ralph retired from the Local 227 Pipefitters where he was a welder. He traveled much of the states working on various projects including the Savannah River Plant.

Ralph attended West Columbia Pentecostal Church and Airport Assembly of God. He was a member of the Senior Citizens group where he enjoyed their fellowship outings each month.

Ralph was orphaned at a young age and spent some of his youth at Epworth Children’s Home in Columbia, SC. In his teen years, he spent time at John de la Howe’s Agricultural School in McCormick, SC.

In between spending times with various family members and the homes, he recalled his best memories on his Aunt Mary Jones and Uncle “Bud” Jones’ farm in Gilbert, SC. Already with five children of their own, they gladly accepted him as their brother. His Aunt Mary recently passed away at 99 years old.

Ralph loved to garden and would share his bounties with his family and neighbors. He was known for his fresh tomatoes and Red Eye Gravy made with those fresh tomatoes. He could also make a mean fried egg sandwich according to his grands.

Ralph loved to cook and he and his brother, Rudy, who lived on Earline Drive as well, would often host fish fries and catfish stews for family and friends. They were both known for their knife sharpening skills. Mom would often have bandages on her fingers as the result of “holding the knife wrong” as Dad would say.

Ralph loved to sing and you would often hear his crooning country voice singing the country classics and old church hymns. One of his all-time favorites was “Hey Good Looking” by Hank Williams. His favorite hymn was “In the Garden”.

He and Judy, the “love of his life”, would sit and watch the hummingbirds from their den window. He would place the feeders there right before his birthday in April as he said that is how he remembered when they would come to his house. His yard was scattered with bird feeders and birdbaths.

He is survived by his daughters, Peggy Ann Stoudemire (Gerald) of Cayce, SC, Tina Marie Boatwright (Jerry) of Cayce, Teresa Jean Weaver (Holley) of Leesville and son, Donald Eugene Busbee of Austin, TX; his grandchildren, Christopher Allan Weaver, Laura Ann Thompson (Jacob), Spenser David Boatwright (Olivia), Jessica Marie Earp (Bryan), Taylor Weston Earp (Matti); great grandchildren, Harley Weaver, Ashlyn Weaver, Sydney Weaver, Raleigh Jacob Thompson and Amelia Ann Thompson; sister, Doris Sweat and many nephews, nieces and cousins.

He was predeceased by his sister, Betty Chapelle, and brothers, Leroy and Rudolph Busbee.

Private funeral services will be held Friday, July 3, 2020 at 3:00 P.M. at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, West Columbia Chapel, with interment to follow at Southland Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made as follows: Epworth Children’s Home, 2900 Millwood Ave., Columbia, SC 29205 or John de la Howe School, 192 Gettys Road, McCormick, SC 29835 or delahowe.sc.gov.