Obituary of Ralph Salyer

Ralph Salyer,82, of Louisa, KY passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones at Cabell Huntington Hospital on June 19th, 2023. 

Ralph was born to Minyard and Beulah Salyer on August 29th, 1940. He was preceded in death by his brothers Marvin Salyer, Marcus Salyer, and Rothert Salyer and sister Madelin Salyer Van Culin. He has three surviving sisters Veva Hylton of Louisa, Kentucky, Faye Delong of Blaine, Kentucky and Lydia Salyer Batsakis of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Ralph proudly served in the United States Army from 1957-1960 and was stationed in Germany. Throughout his enlistment, he took many adventures across Europe. He often enjoyed telling of the time he bummed a ride on the general's plane to Paris. Once he returned state side, he met Miss Geneva Ann Hughes, who grew up less than 5 miles from his old home place. They married on June 23rd, 1962 and were blessed with four children. Their first child, Ralph Eugene, was stillborn of April 19th, 1963. Larry Ralph was born nearly a year later on March 31st, 1964. They welcomed their first baby girl, Susan Leann, on May 4th, 1966. Followed by Julia Jan on May 7th, 1969.

He enjoyed traveling and had driven through every state in the continental United States; most more than once. He knew the interstate system throughout the country and state route numbers all over the east coast like the back of his hand. He dedicated his life to Jesus on September 20th, 1987 and was a member of Cherokee Freewill Baptist Church. Later, he joined Smokey Valley Enterprise Baptist Church, where he and Ann were members for 30 years. He was a respected deacon and beloved Sunday school teacher. 

Ralph  and Ann were married for more than 60 years. Together, they built a family of life and love. Their son Larry  married Leisa Frisby of Paintsville in 1985, and had two children, Laken TeNeal Pack & Larry Skyler Salyer. Susan had two children of her own, Jack LeAnn DeRossett and Alison Brooke Hill. Jan had a single child, Kristen Nicole Reed, and welcomed two more adult children, Jennifer Sanders and Jason Wheeler (along with his better half, Rebecca Terpening) into the family when she married George Wheeler in 2018.

Their grandchildren grew families of their own, the oldest, Jennifer married Joseph Sanders of Long Beach, California in 2012, and has one child, Joseph Gage Sanders (6). Laken married Shane Pack of Louisa, Kentucky in 2015 and have three children together, Oakley Sky Pack (6), Lennon Grey Pack (4), and Levee Neal Pack (1). Kristen married Brittany Hamilton of Mount Sterling, Kentucky in 2013, and has two children Hudson Blaine Reed (8) and Harper Willow Reed (3). Finally, Skyler married Alyx Meade of Paintsville, Kentucky in 2016 and they also have two children; Chadley Kate Salyer (5) and Lincoln Skyler Salyer (1).

The funeral service will be at 3pm on Thursday June 22, 2023 at Smokey Valley Enterprise Baptist Church with Pastor Michael Horn officiating. Friends may visit the family from 11 am until time of service at the church.  A burial with military honors will follow at the Hughes-Pigg Family Cemetery.

Care for Ralph and his family has been entrusted to our family at Wilson Funeral Home.