RALPH WINSTON FAIL
Dec. 10, 1923-Jan. 9, 2013
GASTONIA -- Ralph Winston Fail, 89, passed away at Courtland Terrace Jan. 9, 2013.
Born Dec. 10, 1923, in Wayne County, he was the son of the late Needham Winston Fail and Mary Wilkins Fail.
A veteran of World War II, Ralph entered the Army Air Corps in early 1943 and served throughout the duration of the War. He and his twin brother, William, served together and were stationed at Gander, New Foundland.
After the war, Ralph resided in Goldsboro, where he entered the restaurant business.
Having found his niche in food service, Ralph joined the Army and Air Force Exchange service (AAFES). This career took him to many countries as well as various states in our country.
Soon after he returned from the military services, he joined and became active in the American Legion. He served one year as post adjacent and two years as post commander of Wayne Post II. He was instrumental in fundraising to build a legion hut, and maintained an active membership in Wayne Post II of Goldsboro.
He always enjoyed traveling, and he visited every continent except Africa and all 50 of the United States.
In addition to his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by his beloved first wife of 60 years, Doris Gregory Fail. He was also preceded by six brothers and two sisters.
Ralph is survived by his present wife, the former Alice Rebecca "Becky" Hager, and by a brother and three sisters.
Additional survivors include his son, Gregg Fail and wife, Beverly, of Cedar Hills, Texas; daughter, Joyce F. Hartung and husband, Bruce, of Gastonia; as well as five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Ralph was an active member of Gaston County World War II Last Man Club, where he served in the honor guard until the past couple of years.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Henderlite Sunday school class since moving to Gastonia in 1998.
Honorary pallbearers will be Gaston County World War II Last Man Club and the Men's Henderlite Sunday school class.
Services will be conducted by pastor John Stanley and the Rev. Lauren Vanacore in the chapel at First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia, located at 1621 E. Garrison Blvd., Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at 4 p.m.
Visitation will follow immediately after the service in the church parlor.
Burial will be at Wayne Memorial Cemetery in Goldsboro Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Drew Clark officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make contributions to Gaston Hospice, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia, N.C., 28054
Condolences may be made online at www.carothersfuneralhomegastonia.com.
Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia, is serving the Fail family.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on January 11, 2013 1:48 PM