Ralph Crofford

Posted: Saturday, December 1, 2012 4:00 pm

Ralph Lynn Crofford, 80, of Nashville, formerly of Dresden, died Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012 at the Alive Hospice Residence in Nashville.

Memorial services will be held at noon, Saturday Dec. 1, 2012 at Bowlin Funeral Home Chapel in Dresden with Danny Lamb and Chris Smith officiating. Burial followed in Sunset Cemetery in Dresden. Friends may call Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time.

Pallbearers will be Doug Copeland, Randal Copeland, Cameron Cottingham, Sam Hargrove, Stan Kelley, Jerry Kelley, Jeff Mayo, Robert R. Neyland Jr., Jon Springer and Brian Webb.

Ralph was born Oct. 4, 1932 in Dresden, son of the late Thomas Hilary and Hazel Alaine Maxey Crofford. He was also preceded in death by a younger brother, Douglas Wayne.  In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Jerlean Webb Crofford from Palmersville to whom he married Dec. 14, 1957. They were married 47 1/2 years before her death in 2005. Ralph attended Harris Elementary School and Dresden High School. Ralph was a US Air Force Veteran beginning his active duty in 1953. He was a truck driver for Argo Collier Truck Lines from 1961-1984. He then worked for Ryder Truck Lines and TCW in Nashville until his retirement at age 75. He received several safety and attendance awards during his career. He was a loyal member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and while at Argo Collier Teamsters Local 710 in Chicago, IL.  Ralph was baptized at Dresden Church of Christ in 1965 by William Goree. He was a founding member of Southside Church of Christ. In 1999, after permanently moving his residence to Nashville, he and his wife were members of Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in Brentwood. After retirement, Ralph was a member of Silver Sneakers at the Bellevue YMCA, McDonald’s Bingo and attended his grandchildren’s’ events at Montgomery Bell Academy and Lipscomb Academy. Ralph was also a survivor of the 2010 Nashville Flood and was one of the first in his neighborhood to rebuild and was an inspiration to others for his spirit and friendship. Ralph is survived by his only child and daughter Marcia Lynn Crofford (Jay) Sloan, CPA MMHC of Nashville; grandchildren, Joseph White Sloan III of Knoxville and Hilary Brook Sloan of Nashville; a brother, Dan E. (Mildred) Crofford of Dresden; nieces, Danna (Stan) Kelley and daughter, Taylor of Alpharetta, Ga. and Amy (Sam) Hargrove and son, Nathaniel of Ringgold, Ga.; and only first cousin, Sue Ellen Maxey (Danny) Lamb of Franklin, and children Cameron (Laura and Adri) and Courtney (Greg) of Nashville. He is also survived by brother-in-law, Jere Webb and family of Martin; and sister-in-laws. Bettye Mayo Tidwell and family of Dresden and Ellen Webb Pope and family, of Poquoson, Va.

Online tributes may be left at www.bowlinfuneralhome.com.

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