Ralph Lee Barnes, 92, of South Charleston, WV, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2025.

Born on October 17, 1932, to John Barnes and Ruby Kessinger, Ralph spent his early years in Charleston, growing up on South Park Road. He attended Charleston High School before continuing his education at Morris Harvey College.

In 1953, while proudly serving in the U.S. Army, Ralph married the love of his life, Mary Lou Miller. After his military service, he began his professional career at Union Carbide before joining Brown & Root in 1968, which took him and his family to Houston, TX. In 1980, he returned to the Kanawha Valley to work with MTI, which later became CDI. His career spanned decades in the engineering and construction industries, where he contributed to major projects and built lifelong friendships.

Ralph’s career provided opportunities for international assignments, sparking a deep love of travel that remained with him throughout his life. He spent extended periods working in London and Oslo and explored much of Europe, including a particularly meaningful visit to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. His adventures took him even farther, from a trip to Beijing to an unforgettable experience at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Later, he returned to Europe multiple times with his sons and took one final trip with Mary Lou to London, Paris, Munich, and Frankfurt.

Family was the heart of Ralph’s life. He and Mary Lou relocated multiple times – including to Houston, Orlando, and Charleston, SC – always staying close to their children and grandchildren while maintaining their home in South Charleston. By 2021, Ralph had earned the affectionate title of “Cool Ass Grandpa,” a moniker he embraced so fully that he signed his cards to his grandchildren with the phrase.

Ralph was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Lou; infant son, Richard; and his grandson, Keith Stockman. He is survived by his children: Debbie Kempe, Cindy (Thomas) Hargrave, Lee (Candy Frazier) Barnes, and Randy (Cheryl) Barnes; and his grandchildren: Courtney Hargrave, Beck Hargrave, Chandler (Andrew) Jessup, Ryan Barnes, Erica (David Moore) Barnes, and Brooke (Jacob Moore) Barnes.

The family will hold a celebration of Ralph’s life at a later date.

Memories of Ralph may be shared by visiting http://snodgrassfuneral.com and selecting the obituary. Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, is handling the arrangements.