Ralph Respess was born in Crowder, MS, the second son and third child of Ransom Scott Respess and Grace Rich Respess. At the age of 8, his parents moved to Horn Lake in DeSoto County. In 1945, he married Julia Frances Embrey and became the father of Ralph, Jr., Gwen, and Karl. By profession he was a printer and spent many years in the printing business; firstly, at the Tate County Democrat in Senatobia, secondly, at the South Reporter in Holly Springs, then at the Whitehaven Press and The Commercial Appeal in Memphis where he remained until he retired. In 1973, he was elected to the first Board of Aldermen in the newly incorporated City of Horn Lake. He served as Alderman from 1973-1977, when health concerns prevented him from running for re-election. It was in 1977 that he had to have brain surgery to correct a problem of fluid build-up in his brain, which caused what Daddy always termed "sick headaches". At this time, it was discovered that he had an aneurysm in his brain that was located so deep that operating on it was deemed impossible. He was forced to retire due to these health problems and spent the next 18 years, with my mother, keeping up 5 acres of property in Horn Lake and raising a garden which kept the freezer fully stocked year round. Daddy had to keep in mind all during this time that he had an aneurysm and didn't need to over-do whatever he was doing at the moment. His health began to deteriorate in the Spring of 1994 and by July of 1995, his doctors determined that it was time to replace the shunt in his head with a new one to see if it would correct the health problems he was having. The operation was a success, but only a temporary one. On the night of October 5, 1995, Daddy suffered a seizure and was taken to Baptist DeSoto Hospital, then sent on the Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis, where the doctors said his aneurysm had burst and that the outlook was hopeless. He spent the night in ICU and was then placed in a private room where he was surrounded by many, many immediate and extended family members and made comfortable until his passing 24 hours later on October 6, 1995. Daddy and Mama had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary 2 weeks earlier and was the occassion when he declared in his silly way he had of doing things that, "I still love her". He was survived by his wife of 50 years, Julia Frances Respess, his 3 children, Ralph Respess, Jr., Gwen Respess Sanders, and Karl Respess, and his 3 grandchildren, Julie Respess, Craig Respess, and Hana Sanders.
Ralph Respess was born in Crowder, MS, the second son and third child of Ransom Scott Respess and Grace Rich Respess. At the age of 8, his parents moved to Horn Lake in DeSoto County. In 1945, he married Julia Frances Embrey and became the father of Ralph, Jr., Gwen, and Karl. By profession he was a printer and spent many years in the printing business; firstly, at the Tate County Democrat in Senatobia, secondly, at the South Reporter in Holly Springs, then at the Whitehaven Press and The Commercial Appeal in Memphis where he remained until he retired. In 1973, he was elected to the first Board of Aldermen in the newly incorporated City of Horn Lake. He served as Alderman from 1973-1977, when health concerns prevented him from running for re-election. It was in 1977 that he had to have brain surgery to correct a problem of fluid build-up in his brain, which caused what Daddy always termed "sick headaches". At this time, it was discovered that he had an aneurysm in his brain that was located so deep that operating on it was deemed impossible. He was forced to retire due to these health problems and spent the next 18 years, with my mother, keeping up 5 acres of property in Horn Lake and raising a garden which kept the freezer fully stocked year round. Daddy had to keep in mind all during this time that he had an aneurysm and didn't need to over-do whatever he was doing at the moment. His health began to deteriorate in the Spring of 1994 and by July of 1995, his doctors determined that it was time to replace the shunt in his head with a new one to see if it would correct the health problems he was having. The operation was a success, but only a temporary one. On the night of October 5, 1995, Daddy suffered a seizure and was taken to Baptist DeSoto Hospital, then sent on the Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis, where the doctors said his aneurysm had burst and that the outlook was hopeless. He spent the night in ICU and was then placed in a private room where he was surrounded by many, many immediate and extended family members and made comfortable until his passing 24 hours later on October 6, 1995. Daddy and Mama had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary 2 weeks earlier and was the occassion when he declared in his silly way he had of doing things that, "I still love her". He was survived by his wife of 50 years, Julia Frances Respess, his 3 children, Ralph Respess, Jr., Gwen Respess Sanders, and Karl Respess, and his 3 grandchildren, Julie Respess, Craig Respess, and Hana Sanders.
