Ralph Woodrow Faulkner

Rev. Ralph "Woody" Faulkner died at 12:30 P.M. at the Middletown Regional Hospital on July 10. He was born September 19, 1912, in Richland County, Ohio, the son of John W. and Ellen Faulkner. He was married to Vera Kalas, June 10, 1941, in Naperville, Illinois, who survives him. To this union were born three sons: Robert, who died in 1976 at the age of 36; Donald of Lima, Ohio; Dean of Carmel, Indiana; and three daughters, Shirley Shumaker of Lancaster, Ohio; Mary Hoffman of Bremen, Ohio; and Jean Ann Trimmer of Swansboro, North Carolina. Seventeen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive. Rev. and Mrs. Faulkner served at Mt. Sinai and Salem Churches in Butler, Ohio; Marion Calvary United Methodist Church in Marion, Ohio; St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Findlay, Ohio; Sharon Park United Methodist Church in Lima, Ohio; and Trinity United Methodist Church in Logan, Ohio, for a total of 43 years. Upon retirement in 1983, Woody served as Minister of Visitation for six years at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Findlay. In 1989, Woody retired from this position and moved to Otterbein-Lebanon Retirement Community, Lebanon, Ohio. Pastor Faulkner was active in District and Conference work of his denomination, serving six times as elected Ministerial Delegate to the quadrennial General Conferences, concluding with the 1970 meeting of the newly organized United Methodist Church. He served for 10 years as Trustee of Haven Hubbard Home, New Carlisle, Indiana, and for 7 years as the Trustee of North Central College, Naperville, Illinois, where he graduated in 1938. He and his wife represented the Athens District of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church at the World Methodist Conference in Honolulu in July, 1961. Pastor Faulkner enjoyed working for Christ and His Church and always found time to visit friends and neighbors and the members of the churches he served. His goal was to be a joyful witness for Jesus Christ. He working philosophy was, "Do the best you can, with what you have, where you are, to the Glory of God." He favorite scripture portion was Philippians 4:4-8, 13, 19. Woody will remain in the hearts of those he touched as a loving husband, a model father, and a supportive Christian minister. ▼Image Gallery