Ralph Thomas Morris

from his home in New Bern. N.C. He was born December 24, 1920 in Lexington, N. C., the son of James

Yancy and Leora Boswell Morris. He is survived by his children, Patricia Roseman of Wilmington, Linda

Helsabeck (Dr. Jim) of Winston-Salem, and Dr. Jim Morris (Teresa) of Greenville; grandchildren Mark

Roseman (Debbie), Michael Roseman (Evelina), Amanda H. Cochran (Marc), Julie Helsabeck, Yancy

Morris (Heather), and Abby M. McKernan (Ross); adoring great grandchildren Caroline Roseman,

Catherine Roseman, Veronika Roseman, Nikolay Roseman, Lilly Cochran, Fischer Cochran, Greyson

Cochran, Brody McKernan, Cole McKernan, and Gray Morris, all to whom ‘Pops’ was larger than life;

special nieces and nephews and their families. Predeceasing him were his beloved wife of 62 years, Elsie

Stallings Morris, his parents, his brother James Y. Morris, Jr., his first-born son, Ralph T. Morris, Jr., and

his son-in-law, Dr. Al Roseman.

Ralph lived an extraordinary life filled with gratitude and deep devotion to his country. He spent five

years in the Army Air Corps (now the US Air Force), two of which were served in the South Pacific during

World War II as a tail gunner in a B-17. For bravely flying many missions in service to the US, he was

awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses with Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart. He attended

Officer Candidate School, serving as Corps Commander, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

After the service, he and his precious Elsie settled in New Bern where he raised a family and worked for

many years in the propane gas business, expanding to six counties. His devotion to his community and

profession led to many accolades over the years, including election as President of both the NC and

National Propane Gas Associations. He served twice as President of the New Bern/Craven County

Chamber of Commerce, was elected to the New Bern School Board of Education, was appointed by

governors to the NC State Highway Commission (now the DOT) and the NC State Banking Commission,

was President of the East Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and was Chairman of the

Craven Regional Airport Authority. He served on boards of the Eastern NC Railway and First Citizens

Bank. His faithful work with scouting earned him the Silver Beaver Award. His community service was

rewarded by the Jr. Chamber of Commerce’s naming him ‘Young Man of the Year’ and by Phillips

Petroleum Company bestowing their ‘Mr. Phil’ award. He was granted The Order of the Longleaf Pine by

former Governor Mike Easley. His loving devotion to family earned him the unofficial title of the best

husband, father, uncle, granddad (Pops), and great granddad the world has ever known. We all cherish

the wonderful times together, his well-told stories and jokes, his quick wit and sense of humor...and

even his occasional ‘gruffness’. He lived faithfully by the Golden Rule and was generous to many. As his

pastor recently said, he lived a life of humility and never knew how great he was.

His faithful commitment to his family and to God led Ralph to becoming a charter member of the church

he loved so much, Garber United Methodist Church. He enthusiastically served in many capacities and

was most touched when the new Fellowship Hall auditorium was named Morris Hall in honor of Ralph

and Elsie. He was very proud of the church’s tremendous growth and the way it touches the lives of so

many. His Agape Sunday School class was a shining beacon in his life and he loved every member like

they were family. He felt the very same way about the Garber staff. He was seen many a Sunday

morning driving his scooter to the church, the orange flag flying behind him.

Ralph was an avid pilot, world traveler, reader, gardener, cook (he was the best cake baker as many can

attest), fisherman and hunter. His family thought he could do anything. Due in great part to his muchloved nephew, Buddy Stallings and wife Wendy (whom he considered an adopted daughter), and good

friends Tom Bland and David Oliver, he was able to continue to do many of the things he loved well into

his nineties. He lived a life full of love, fun, and adventure, and considered himself the luckiest man in

the world.

Due to Covid, a private family service to honor Ralph’s life will be held this week at Garber United

Methodist Church, with Pastor David Banks officiating. Another Celebration of Life will be held at a later

date. In lieu of flowers, the family would truly appreciate memorials to Garber United Methodist

Church, 4202 Country Club Rd., New Bern, NC 28562 or to Craven County Hospice, 2818 Neuse Blvd.,

New Bern, NC 28562.

The family will be forever grateful to both Craven Co. Hospice and to Assisting at Home, LLC for their care and devotion to our dad in his last days, especially to Sheri and Patricia from Hospice and to Melinda Wheeler’s team of wonderful caregivers from Assisting at Home....Vergie, Stephanie, Janessa, Josephine, Sherry, Anita, and Tori. Without their help and support, our family would not have been able to spend time together around the clock, and that was such a gift.

Funeral arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home.