Ralph Beal Poole, 83 of Hillsville, passed away on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center.  Ralph was born to Bina and Beal Poole on May 31, 1940 in Sparta, NC and raised there.  He had one older brother, Jimmy, and one close cousin who was like a brother, George Edwards.  After graduating from Sparta High School, he attended Appalachian State University.  Following graduation, he pursued more education in mathematics and attended the University of Wyoming before returning to NC.

Ralph never had formal music lessons but was blessed with the ability to pick up most any instrument and play it by ear.  He enjoyed playing in a band as a young man.

His first job after college was at Sprague Electric in Lansing, NC as an electrical engineer.  He truly had an engineering mind and could fix almost anything.  Much of his love for fixing things stemmed from spending time at his dad's gas station and garage while growing up in Sparta and being around vehicles in various states of repair.

He met his wife, Peggy, near Sparta while he was working in Lansing and they married on July 31, 1965.  Then Ralph was transferred to the plant in Hillsville, VA where they made their home.  Three years later their first and only child, Lynn, was born.  Ralph continued to pursue engineering at Sprague Electric where he became an inventor.  He developed a new electrolytic capacitor and received a patent in June 1977.

Later, Ralph and Peggy moved to Bowling Green, KY for a few years before returning to BMI in Hillsville to finish his career in Hillsville.  Later in life, Ralph embraced his relationship with the Lord and enjoyed attending church at Mtn. Plains UMC with Peggy.  He also loved spending time with his grandchildren, fishing, attending the Indy 500 every year, and traveling with Peggy.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 58 years, Peggy, and daughter, Lynn Wilson and husband, Philip of Cumming, GA, and their children, Carter and Sydney, along with nephew, James A Poole, his niece, Sondra Magness and husband Bob, and his niece's husband, Bob Berkebile. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bina and Beal Poole, his brother, Jimmy, and his niece, Lisa Poole Berkebile and her sons, Matthew and Ryan.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 11, 2023 at Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel at 1:00 PM with Pastor Rick Clark officiating.  Burial will follow in the Mountain Plains Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, from 12:00 until 1:00 PM prior to the funeral service.  In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Mountain Plains United Methodist Church. Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel is serving the family.