He was born Nov. 6, 1932, at St. Johns, Mo., a son of Benjamin Franklin and Blanche (Borgman) Farran. His family moved to Overland, Mo., while he was an infant and resided there until moving to Farmington, Mo., in 1948. He then moved to Parsons in 1950 and worked construction for various companies until enlisting in the Navy in 1952. Upon his discharge he went to work for the Parsons Fire Department in 1956. He served 27 years, retiring in 1983. He also painted houses for 20 years and retired from that in 2003.
He married Doris June Snider on June 26, 1955, at Parsons.
He was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church. He was a member of the American Red Cross and the American Association of Retired Persons. Through the years he had a family blue grass band and played at bluegrass festivals over the four-state area. They also played on the Parsons Plaza for the Arts and Crafts Fair. He and his wife played Mr. and Mrs. Santa for 10 years for businesses and private parties. Ralph’s other hobbies included fishing and being with his great-grandchildren and his other family. He was a lifetime blood donor with the Red Cross bloodmobile, having just received his 21-gallon pin.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Farran of the home; two sons, Rusty L. Farran and his wife, Debbie, of Galesburg and Randy E. Farran and his wife, Barbara, of Tulsa; a daughter, Dawna D. Farran of Parsons; three grandchildren, Allan Farran and his wife, Terri, Renea Whitaker and her husband, Steven, all of Parsons, and Russell Farran and his companion, Brandi Altman, of Galesburg; a stepgranddaughter, Summer Lessly of Willard, Mo.; 10 great-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Ronda Lea Farran; two sisters, Melva M. Stover and Erna Jean Ritchey; his parents in-law, Lois and David Snider; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Snider and John Lewis.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Labette County American Red Cross or to the Parsons Fire Department. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O .Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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