Ralph William O'Brien

Mr. Ralph William O’Brien, 72, of Smiths Station, AL passed away Friday, April 25, 2025.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:00 am (EST) at Vance Brooks Funeral Home in Phenix City, AL with Rev. Chris Herbert officiating. Interment will follow at Lakeview Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at the funeral home

Mr. O’Brien was born February 21, 1953 the son of the late Jay Bernard O’Brien and Willie Ruth Wade O’Brien. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by five siblings: sisters: Sherry Davis, Vivian Roberts, Donna Curran and Lynn O’Brien, and brother Danny Ray O’Brien.

He is survived by one older brother John Bernard O’Brien, whom he dearly loved and cherished and his wife Diane. Ralph is also survived by his wife of 47 years, Pamela O’Brien. One son, Christopher Michael O’Brien, and his wife Stephanie O’Brien, and her mother Maria Creech. He had two grandchildren, Shelby Allport and Connor Michael O’Brien. And also many nieces and nephews.

Ralph loved people. He loved to talk to people and could strike up a conversation with anyone. He made friends easily, and he remembered them. But most of all Ralph loved his family and he loved the Lord.

He was very proud of his son, Christopher and the man, father and husband he had grown up to be. He loved Shelby dearly, and loved to talk about his granddaughter and her wrestling. Ralph dearly loved his grandson Connor too. From the time he was a baby and he held him in one hand, and would blow on his feet, until today when he often bragged about how smart he was. He liked to tell people that he was not smarter than a 5th grader, because Connor had to show us how to use the ice and water in the new refrigerator.

Ralph started working at a local gas station at age 14. He was a mechanic, mainly working on brakes and front-end alignments. He also refereed football and wrestling for many years. He worked hard all his life, until at age 61, his health began to fail and he retired.

Ralph was baptized and became a Christian while he and his wife were dating in 1977. He was baptized in Sunderland Baptist Church in Ft Michell Alabama. At Sunderland, he began singing in the choir. As long as he was able, Ralph sang in choirs. His best friend, Don Entrekin, taught him how to read music and sing by reading the notes. He could sing bass and some tenor. Don taught himself to play the guitar, and Ralph learned to play the bass guitar. They played together at Let’s Pick and at church. They also learned to play the harmonica together and played that as well. They sang together in quartets in North Phenix Baptist, Midway Baptist and finally at Northside Baptist in Opelika.

The last choir that Ralph sang in was at Epworth Methodist Church. He loved singing in the choir. And loved his friend, and choir director, Kevin Sharpe. At Epworth, he reconnected with old friends and wrestling buddies from Central High School and his good friend, Grant Parker.

Ralph was a good man, and a faithful man. He was faithful to his church, his family, his wife and his Lord.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. Psalm116:15

To leave condolences online, visit www.vancebrooksfuneralhome.net