One year ago today. We miss you and as always love you very much. 

               Patti & John

Thank you for letting the staff at Brightglade know of his homegoing.  He was a delight for us to care for,

Ralph Chandler was dearly loved. God loved the world so much that He gave his son so that we may have everlasting life.(John 3:16)
LaVerne Jones TN

Thank you to everyone who has written of their memories of Ralph. I knew him all my life but I've learned new, great things about him from your memories. He and my mother (Ann Smith) did so much to care for Aunt LaVeda. They were two of her favorite people and she would sometimes even do as they asked.

His friend Newt live across the street from my house when I was growing up. Ralph and Newt taught me how to clean the carbs on my TR 3. I spent many teenage hours with them at Newt's house and with SCCA.
Ralph was so good to Newt, a paraplegic.
Sorry to lose a fine man.
Alyce Newberry Guthrie

To Uncle Ralph,

  John and I really loved you.

John and Patti Gandy

My Great Uncle Ralph was the kindest, gentlest man I've ever known... Sincere warm heart and all around an inspiration to humanity... I will always remember him that way and wish I could of spent more time with him as an adult.

Mary Ellen's Memories of Ralph Chandler
My earliest memories of my Uncle Ralph come from a child's perspective. He was tall, strong, commanding, and always by my Aunt Bess's side. As I grew up, as it so often happens with families, my life connected with their lives with the occasional letter or visit.
It was at the time of my Aunt's death, that the relationship between Ralph and I began to strengthen. We corresponded more frequently, and talked on the phone every Sunday night for two hours. When I started looking forward to that two hour phone call, I knew my love for Ralph was deepening.
Because Ralph had a good and robust live, he had many stories to tell. The young man talked of being a soda jerk; the elder man loved milk shakes. The young man was the race car driver of a Triumph TR 2, he loved the memories of those days with Don and Newt who became his closest friends. The elder man's TV was constantly tuned to the Speed Channel. The young man was also a late night radio disc jockey. The elder man knew the words to every big band or standard song and always sang along. The young man took trips with his wife, taught his elder mother to drive, wrote a book about Egypt, and lived in Midtown before it was cool to live in Midtown.  The elder man lived in his Sherwood Forest home for 55 years. The young man worked in Television. He was with WHBQ, Channel 13 when it went on the air in 1953. He served as camera man, News Director, and finally Producer/Director. These were some of the elder man's favorite memories. He loved directing kid shows like Romper Room, Lunchtime Theatre, and working with Susie the Clown. His other top rated shows were Million Dollar Movie, and Miss America Matinee.  Behind the scenes he talked to politicians and celebrities while they were in the makeup chair. 
Like so many of his generation, the stories Ralph never told were those of serving his country. He was a veteran of the Korean War. The one story he did tell of that time concerned the airplanes he worked on. Naturally, the man did love machines that go fast! 
Ralph was a faithful Presbyterian. As member of first Emmanuel Presbyterian and then First Presbyterian, he sang in the choir, served as an Elder and Council Member. 
Ralph was a good Uncle; not only to me, but to my children. He was always concerned for their well-being. Even now, as young adults they smile remembering Ralph's magic tricks.
Ralph was also a faithful Nephew. Perhaps, in serving as caregiver for his centenarian Aunt Laveda, he set an example for me. Ralph was never a burden. He was always happy to see me, loved introducing me to good restaurants, and entertained me with his stories to his very last day. In my mind's eye I still see that tall, strong, commanding young man, and I am happy to know he is once again by my Aunt Bess's side.

I sang in the choir at Emanuel as a college student and came to love Ralph and Bess. They were both so kind, genuine and quick to laugh. I was a journalism major and always enjoyed hearing Ralph talk about his years in TV and advertising. I still prepare Bess' chicken and rice casserole for church dinners. 

I was occasionally able to visit Ralph on trips to Memphis, and we even saw each other once when I lived in Atlanta on one of his trips to Florida. I sent him my annual New Year's letter every year and will shed real tears as I remove his name from my mailing list. My thoughts and prayers are with all of Ralph's family and friends. I will miss him.

My cousin Ralph was our family's caretaker.  He watched over his mother, Ruby, and cared for our Uncle Leon.  He drove my mother, Elouise, when she needed transportation and was the guardian angel of our Aunt LaVeda, enabling her to live in her home until her death at 101. We will miss him.
Mary Ulmer

Our prayers are with the family in their time of sorrow.  We remember just a few weeks ago seeing him at the seniors luncheon at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn.

OBITUARY

Ralph G. Chandler

6 February, 1929 – 16 April, 2013

Memphis Funeral Home

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