Mr. Ralph Allison Blythe Jr.'s Obituary
Funeral Services for Mr. Ralph Allison Blythe, Jr. 78, of Alexander City, Alabama will be Sunday September 11,2016 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Dr Gerald Hallmark and Dr. Steve King will officiate. The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 11 from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church with funeral services following at 3:00. Private graveside services will follow at Hillview Memorial Park.
Mr. Blythe passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 8, 2016. He was born on May 22, 1938 in Alexander City to Ralph A. Blythe, Sr. and Clara Coley Blythe. Allison graduated from Benjamin Russell High school in 1956. He went on to graduate from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1960 with a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation he proudly served his country in the Marine Corps for four years, then returned home to work as an engineer for two years before taking over his father’s insurance, real estate, and small loan business. He successfully owned and operated Blythe Insurance and Investments for a number of years before selling the business. Allison (“Big Al” to his family and many of his close friends) was active in local and state Republican politics, serving on the state Republican Executive Committee for a number of years. He was appointed Assistant Insurance Commissioner under Governor Guy Hunt. Allison was a longtime active member of First Baptist Church of Alexander City and served as a Deacon for much of that time. He loved the outdoors, spending time in the woods hunting and fishing, canoeing the streams and rivers of the south, and spending time on Lake Martin with his lifelong cadre of friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph A Blythe, Sr and Clara Coley Blythe.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Alice Blythe of Alexander City; son John H. Blythe (Pat) of Birmingham, AL, daughter Amy Gibney (Mike) of Fairhope, AL; grandchildren Alexandria, Ashton, and Patrick Blythe, all from Birmingham, AL, Caroline Williams (Greg) of Fairhope, AL, Nicholas Gaston of Mobile, AL; great grandchild, Maxson Williams; brother Dr. John C. Blythe (Ruth) of Alexander City, and many nieces and nephews.
Active Pallbearers will be Patrick Blythe, John Denney, Jim Denney, Greg Williams, Nicholas Gaston, Mark Harris, and Dr. William Blythe. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of Al’s Sunday School class.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to any Alzheimer’s organization.
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