Ralph P. "Pops" Pridmore

Ralph P. "Pops" Pridmore Jr. 69, of Jacksonville, Arkansas lost his long and courageous battle with cancer and went to be with his Lord on January 15, 2017. Ralph was born on September 16, 1947 to the late Ralph P. Pridmore, Sr. and Lula Petty Pridmore. He graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1965. He attended UCA at Conway for one year before joining the U.S. Air Force, where he served his country as an aircraft mechanic. His tours of duty were in the Philippines, Vietnam and North Dakota. Upon returning home he went to work for Missouri Pacific Rail Road, later bought by Union Pacific Rail Road in 1972. Ralph worked as a mechanic for several years before being promoted to the position of Superintendent of Maintenance of Way of Work Equipment. He worked for the rail road for 32 years before retiring in 2004 to be with his family. "Pops" as everyone called him, loved baseball and bowling. He coached his son's baseball team for three years in the Jacksonville Youth Baseball Program. Ralph began bowling at the age of 14 at Hilltop Lanes in Jacksonville. He served on many leagues and bowled many tournaments and made many friends. He served on the Central Arkansas USBC Bowling Association as a director, and four years as President. He was inducted into the CABA Hall of fame on May 3, 2003, and in the Arkansas State USBC Bowling Association Hall of Fame on July 11, 2009. Whether he was bowling or coaching others he was at home in the bowling center. He began volunteer coaching high school bowling at Northeast High School. He became the Cabot High School Volunteer Coach in 2008, taking them to 12 Conference Championships, and 10 State Championships. Ralph taught bowling for ASU at Beebe for several years. This was his way of giving back, since the game of bowling had been good to him over the years. All the kids he coached, baseball and bowling were "his kids." Pops always went out of his way to help others. He was well loved and admired and will be missed by his family. Ralph cared deeply for his family but often quietly. He performed acts of kindness that no one knew of, he was a humble man and never forgot where he came from or who he belonged to. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 35 years, Dee Pridmore, his son, Christopher M. Malone, his daughter, Michelle L. Baugh, six grandchildren, Kayla, Justin, Jared, Hayleigh, Hunter Baugh, Christopher M. Malone Jr. (CJ), and two great-grandchildren, Lucian and Scarlett. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Diane Wilder, her nurses Julia, Emma, Missy, her lab staff, and Samantha and Kris, along with her wonderful chemo nurses at LRHO/Carti and Dr. S. Rammos and his staff. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, January 20, 2017 at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home. We will celebrate his life at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home (501) 982-2136. Interment will follow in Bayou Meto Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Carti Foundation. Sign online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.