Dr. Ralph Holland Alexander

Ralph Holland Alexander was born September 3, 1936 in Tyler, Texas. The third child of Joe and Virginia Alexander, Ralph was raised in Corpus Christi and graduated from W.B. Ray High School. Ralph was a gifted child pianist, athlete, student, and Eagle Scout. He attended Rice University, graduating with a B.A. in History. There he completed the U.S. Army ROTC program and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Chaplain’s Corp.

Ralph earned his Th.M. in 1963 and his Th.D. in 1968 from Dallas Theological Seminary. He married Myrna Jean Campbell in 1964, partners in ministry always thereafter. He was awarded a Fulbright Grant for graduate studies in archaeology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, 1964/1965, their first year of married life. During these years he also served at the Southern Bible Training School in Dallas, Texas, taught and mentored staff and students at Cru's Summer Institute of Biblical Studies, just part of a lifelong passionate pursuit to help people grow in personal and communal relationship with God through Christ in light of the whole Bible towards God's praise.

Ralph became a professor at Wheaton College in 1966, teaching Biblical studies and archaeology. In 1973 he joined the faculty of Western Seminary, Portland OR, where he taught for 15 years as Professor of Hebrew Scripture. His care and passion for the Bible, biblical languages, scholarship, and archaeology touched many students. He started and led Western's Summer Quarter Israel Studies Program and also served as Associate Archaeologist at The Albright Institute of Archaeology in Jerusalem. He began leading study tours to the lands of the Bible, a love which would continue for four decades.

Ralph was a pastor and elder at Gresham Community Baptist Church (now, Grace Community Church) while in Portland. His unflinching commitment to team leadership and to the vibrant local church reflecting Jesus to the community deeply marked his personal, family and professional life.

Ralph and Myrna moved to Austria in 1987 to equip church leaders and train pastors in Eastern Europe with ATS and BEE until 1997, continuing from the US until 1999. They continued their ministry with SEND International facilitating educational development for preparing pastors and Christian leaders based in Moscow from 2000-2013. He actively served as an elder, teacher, and encourager in churches in Vienna and Moscow.

Ralph was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2013. He viewed this season of life as a new mission field and remained very active in missions, biblical education, academically, and as members of Good Shepherd Community Church. He continued to inspire neighbors and friends up to his last day.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Myrna; children, David Alexander, Christina Alexander, Jonathan Alexander with his wife Kelly; and three grandchildren, Ethan, Maverick, and Jace Alexander. He is also survived by his brothers, John and James Alexander.

A private family memorial service was held at Grace Community Church. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Ralph's name to the Union Gospel Mission at 3 NW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97209 (online at ugmportland.org), or The Seed Company's Duruma Old Testament Bible translation project (online at tinyurl.com/DurumaOT).