Ralph Wilson Pound, 93, being surrounded by those who loved him most, entered his heavenly home on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024. Born on October 25, 1930, in Longview, MS, Ralph was the son of the late Verona “Rona” and Biva Lee Pound.
In 1957, Ralph married his long-time love, Doris Harlow Pound. They enjoyed a happy and loving marriage until Doris’s passing in 2012. Their daughters, Melissa Pound and Vanessa Hendrix, were their pride and joy.
When Ralph graduated Belden High School in 1949, he immediately enrolled in the U.S. Navy in order to serve his country, proudly serving on the USS Bon Homme Richard and the USS Kenneth Whiting in the Korean War. A born storyteller, he always recounted those Navy days as some of the best he ever experienced. In fact, later on in life, he established the USS Bon Homme Richard Navy Reunion, where he and his Navy buddies would gather and remember those days onboard their beloved ship.
Education was extremely important to Ralph, so on returning home from war, he attended Itawamba Community College and later enrolled at Mississippi State University, where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 1959. He was a lifelong Bulldog and loved watching the Bulldogs play on Saturdays.
Ralph not only owned the Business Collection Agency in Tupelo for many years, he was also very involved in the community. He was a member of the Tupelo Breakfast Civitan Club and the Tupelo Water Ski Club. He held many titles in those clubs, including president. In his free time, he loved all things adventure, including flying his plane, water skiing at the lake, and hanging out at his pool with his family and friends. He was an avid hunter and would travel to Colorado with his hunting buddies every year.
Ralph was a hard worker who provided for his family. He taught everyone who knew him the importance of having a good work ethic and always giving one hundred percent to everything you do. He loved his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren and loved spending time with them. He was a jokester and loved to pull a good prank on his friends and family.
Ralph is survived by his daughter, Vanessa Pound Hendrix of Tupelo; his grandchildren, April Thornton (Daryl), Windy Scruggs, and Madison Hendrix; his great-grandchildren, Abbie King, Hannah Byrd, Sidney Thornton, Van Thornton, and Daisee-Mae Foy; and his great-great grandchildren, Raidyn and Tayton Wagers.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Arlis and J.C. (Edith) Pound, his wife Doris Harlow Pound, and his daughter, Melissa Pound.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 12th, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Baldwin Memorial Funeral Home in Pontotoc, MS. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Longview Baptist Church with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Longview Cemetery. Baldwin Memorial Funeral Home in Pontotoc is in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers are Dr. Jay White, Tommy Newell, Van Thornton, Maffett Pound, Jason Harlow, Charlie Pound, John Pound, Jamie Pound, and Jeff Pannell.
