Ralph Edgar Helms' Obituary
Ralph Edgar Helms, 85, entered God’s Heavenly Choir to sing with the Angels, Sunday, February 2, 2014, after five years of declining health and two weeks of serious illness at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord with his loving wife of 47 ½ years, Martha Griffin Helms, by his side.
Ralph was born April 11, 1928 in Salisbury to the late Curtis Rone Helms and Sue Standly Helms. Ralph was educated in the Salisbury School System. He was a very gifted singer. He sang at church, weddings, funerals, races and other occasions. He was a member of North Kannapolis Baptist Church.
Ralph was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. He was employed by Southern Railway at the Spencer Shops, until its closing, for 14 years. He was employed by Maryland Casualty Company in Charlotte as Manager of the Loss Control and Engineering Department. He also worked as an instructor trainer and taught defensive driving classes for the Safety and Health Council of NC at Charlotte. He was a 4-cycle Technical Director for the World Karting Association for many years.
Ralph was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed baseball, bowling, hunting, fishing, target shooting, NASCAR and Kart Racing and playing golf. He also enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Sonja H. Taylor (Gary Russell) of Gold Hill; two sons, Ronnie Helms (Patti) of Salisbury and Jeff Helms (Sherry) of Monroe; sister, Doris McConnell of The Villages, FL; eight grandchildren, Brad Taylor (Teresa), Adrian Morris (Mike), Dylan, Garrett and Lucas Helms, Preston, Hunter and Jake White; four great grandchildren, Ava, Cole, Madelyn and Owen.
A funeral service will be held at 12:30 pm Thursday, February 6, 2014, at Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Chris O’Guin and Rev. Leon Hawks will officiate. Interment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park with military graveside rites by the Coast Guard and Cabarrus County Veterans Honor Guard.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:00 pm Wednesday at Lady’s Funeral Home.
Memorials may be sent to North Kannapolis Baptist Church, 312 Locust Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081.
Special thanks to the doctors, nurses, and care partners at CMC-NorthEast Neuroscience, Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County and Five Oaks Manor.
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