Ralph Lee Carnes
The Rev. Dr. Ralph Lee Carnes died on Friday, October 16, 2015 in a local after a short illness.
He was born in Tallapoosa, Ga., the son of Randal J. Carnes and Letitia Bertram Carnes. The family moved to Atlanta in the early 1940s where he completed public schools, then graduated from Emory University with BA, MA, and PhD degrees. From 1963 to 1977, he served sequentially as associate professor of Philosophy, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta; chair of the Philosophy Department, the University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL; associate professor of Philosophy and Humanities, the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND; and professor of Philosophy and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL. After leaving the academic world in 1977, he and his wife Valerie co-founded Words Unlimited, a technical and business communications firm based in Chicago.
In the mid-80s he felt a call to ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church and in 1985 entered the Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL, where he received a Certificate in Divinity in June 1986. He was ordained to the transitional diaconate in June 1, 1987 and to priesthood Dec. 12, 1987. He completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and became a Fellow of the College of Chaplains (now the Association of Professional Chaplains) in 1988. He went on to serve as staff chaplain at Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington, IL and Northwest Community Hospital, Des Plaines, IL. After retiring to Chattanooga in 1995, he continued an active ministry. He served as consultant in bioethics for several local hospitals and also served on the Board and Executive Committee of the Chattanooga Association of Clinical Pastoral Care (CACPC) and as its president from 2003 to 2004. He was also supply priest and guest preacher in several local churches, most recently at St. Peter’s, Chattanooga.
He was preceded in death by his parents Randal Carnes and Letitia (Carnes) Kilpatrick; step-father, Robert H. Kilpatrick; parents-in-law, Ross W. Bohanan and Valerie Speed Folts Bohanan; first wife Mary Abernathy Hogsed; two sons, Rex L. Carnes and Randal C. Carnes; and dear friend and mentor Professor Maxwell Dobson.
He is survived by his best friend, soul mate and wife of 47 years, the Rev. Dr. Valerie Bohanan Carnes; daughter, Carina Lee Ellis, Charleston, S.C.; two sons, Jon Thor (Peggy) Carnes, Ellijjay, Georgia and Robert Julian Carnes, Ducktown, Tn.; six grandchildren, April Fawn Ellis, Robert Brent Ellis, Jennifer Mary Ellis and Paul Kelly Ellis, Jr, Michael Andrew Carnes and Vanessa Marie Carnes; five great-grandchildren, Christian Lee Ellis, Lilly Marie Ellis, Katie Lynn Ellis, Chelsey Anne Wenrich, Emma Carnes; and by his beloved cousin, Janelle Hildebrand.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, with Rt. Rev. George D. Young, Bishop of East Tennessee, as celebrant and the Rev. Dr. H. Hunter Huckabay, Jr. as preacher. Internment of the ashes in St, Peter’s columbarium and a reception in the Bracewell Room at St. Peter’s will follow the service.
Visitation with family and friends is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, from 4-6 p.m. at St. Peter’s and again on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., also at St. Peter’s.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Book of Remembrance, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, to the Community Kitchen, Metropolitan Ministries, or to a charity of your choice.
Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord;
And let light perpetual shine upon him.
May his soul, and the souls of all the departed,
Through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen