Claudous Ralph Bodie, 86, of Indian Springs, Alabama passed away Friday, January 21, 2022. Ralph was born June 11, 1935 in Ensley, Alabama. He was an ROTC cadet, and later served honorably in the U.S. Navy as an aerial photographer.
Ralph married his high school sweetheart Carolyn Ann Hay on June 22, 1954. He began working as a custodian at the Continental Can Company-Bessemer Plant in 1954 and retired from the company as the General Manager 34 years later, at the age of 52.
Upon retirement, Ralph and his beloved wife Carolyn traveled the world for pleasure, and to perform missionary work with their Green Valley Baptist Church family. He was a talented musician, an avid salt-water fisherman, bird watcher, Alabama Crimson Tide football fan, and animal lover. He was a member of the National Audubon Society, the Republican National Committee and the National Rifle Association.
Ralph was a man of discipline and devotion, both to his family and to the Lord. He possessed a teacher’s heart and a generous spirit, having taught Sunday School for 30 years and serving as a Dale Carnegie Program Instructor as well. He valued his military training and understood the importance of hard work, health and physical fitness. He felt extraordinarily blessed, and was always quick to share those blessings with others when he could.
Ralph iis survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Carolyn Ann Bodie (nee Hay); his daughter, Molette Durham (nee Bodie); his son, Gregory (Jamie) Bodie; his grandchildren, Christina (Mac Carmichael) Durham, Marina (Dylan) Bodie-Munger, Gabriella (Caleb) Freeman, Sofia (Benjamin) Thornton, Bella and Lucca Biancalana; and his great-grandchildren, Bodie and Colton Carmichael and Rowan Grace Freeman. He also leaves behind a dear brother, William (Jane) Bodie, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, Claudous Vester Bodie and Flossie B. Bodie (nee Journey), and his most beloved and pampered pets, BEAR, Lady, Sweetpea, and Simba.
Ralph was respected and admired by all who knew him, and was adored by his family. He was a loving and dedicated brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and a friend. He is dearly missed by many, who find comfort in the knowledge that we will “Meet him in Heaven.”
The family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama. A Service of Remembrance for Ralph Bodie will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Chapel, Pelham. Burial will be at Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham.
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