Elder Ralph Vernon Gaines

The sun arose on Sunday morning, March 13, 2016 relieving Elder Ralph Gaines of a long, trying illness. He stepped into the congregation of God's Children to listen to the sermon he has longed for all of his life. Ralph served the congregations of the Primitive Baptist churches for 45 years as one of their Ministers. He held this as a privilege and an honor and had the deepest love for all. He served in the National Guard Reserves and was employed with Western & Southern Insurance Company for many years. As a young man, he made many memories for all of his family, playing baseball, bowling, fishing and tinkering with his Classic Car. Survived by his wife of 59 years, Carolyn Cochran Gaines, daughter Martha Rudisill and her husband Michael of High Point, son Keith Gaines and his wife Lisa and daughter Sheila Anderson of Asheboro. Ralph loved all of his grandchildren, Misty Swift and her husband Randy, Brandy Chaffin and her Fiancé David Cottrell, Megan Gaines, Morgan Gaines, Matthew Gaines and his wife Morgan, Ben Troutman and his wife Tracy, Chris Troutman and Adrian, great grandchildren, Jacob Chaffin, Elizabeth Chaffin, Ashton Troutman, Dae Troutman, Jackson Troutman and Ethan Troutman. Surviving sisters, Mildred Hart, Blanche Birchett, both of Siler City and Virginia Birchett of Mebane. All of the nieces and nephews were very precious to him as well. Preceded in death were his mother, Thelma Gaines Stutts, father, Charlie Gaines, step-father, Addison Stutts, brother, Cullum Stutts, sisters, Mary Helen Stutts, Alice Frazier and Erma Trulove. The family will be receiving friends and family on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from 12:30-1:30 PM at Pugh Funeral Home at 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro, NC. The celebration of his life will be at 2 PM in the chapel, officiated by Elder Cleo Robertson and Elder Jimmy Gray. He will then be laid to rest at Randolph Memorial Park in Asheboro. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, P.O. Box 9, Asheboro, NC 27204-0009 or the Alzheimers Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215-3220.