William Ralph Salyers, 76, of Franklin Furnace, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday March 08, 2023. He was born March 31, 1946 to the late Clarice and Rev. Elihue Salyers. He is also preceded by brothers Larry, Rodger, Stanley, Robert, Darrell, and Dannie Salyers; and his sisters Wilma Clark and Peggy Salyers in her infancy.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Helen (Jeanie) Salyers, his daughter Wendy Salyers, with her children Tanner (Randi) Salyers of Mount Vernon, Ohio and Heaven (Richie) Bowman of Portsmouth; and his son Shane (Tara) Salyers, of Ironton, with their children Cameron, Gage, and Lydia Salyers. He also leaves behind two great-grandchildren, Wren Rosalie Salyers and Aryeh Rain Bowman, whom he loved deeply. Ralph is also survived by his sisters Carolyn Stapleton, Audrey (Bill) Dotson, and Deborah (Rick) Nash, all of Franklin Furnace, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends who were like family.
Ralph was a 1965 graduate of Green High School and a veteran of the US Army and Air National Guard. Throughout the course of his life, he worked as an Ironton police officer, county wastewater employee, and a laborer with Laborers Local 83. He served a collective three terms on the Green Local Board of Education and was a strong supporter of education and athletics in his community and for his children and grandchildren. Ralph Salyers was the best storyteller and always had a joke. He was the “Mayor of Franklin Furnace.” He loved doo-wop music and hated having his feet touched.
He was a proud Republican, an avid sportsman, a Buckeyes fan, and a long-suffering Reds fan. He was the family comedian and a terrible singer, but he never let his lack of musical talent keep him from singing (loudly and off-key) in the church pews. He loved his Jesus, and he’d encourage you to pick up your Bible, read the gospel, and join him in Heaven. He was the best dad and an even better papaw, and we’re going to miss him terribly.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to consider making contributions in Ralph’s memory to the William Ralph Salyers Legacy Scholarship Fund through the Scioto Foundation. Checks can be made payable to the Scioto Foundation with the name of the scholarship in the memo line. You may also go online to www.sciotofoundation.org and choose the scholarship from the menu. Checks can be mailed to Scioto Foundation, P.O. Box 911, Portsmouth, Ohio.
Graveside services for friends and family will be held at 1:00pm at Haverhill Cemetery on Saturday, March 11th with Rev. Tom Spradlin officiating. Harrison-Pyles Funeral Home in Wheelersburg was entrusted with the arrangements.
