William Ralph Paris Jr. (Rodney) passed away in the early hours of September 9th, 2024 at his home outside Fredonia in Caldwell County. He devoted his life to learning and seeking excellence in all of his endeavors.
After graduating Fredonia High School in 1959, he attended Centre College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1963. Shortly after, he joined the Navy and delighted in taking every training he could. After a few years working on the river, Mr. Paris went to Purdue University and got a degree in Engineering with a specialty in Land Surveying.
Mr. Paris loved his homeland of Kentucky; his profession allowed him to gain an understanding of it unlike anyone else. Mr. Paris was passionate about maintaining the public land system and sought for each of his surveys to be as close to perfect as possible. He was also enthusiastic in passing on his expertise and was always ready to help train younger surveyors.
He was very involved in his professional associations, serving as president of the Kentucky Associations of Professional Surveyors, and was an active participant in the Surveyor’s Historical Society. He always encouraged his fellow surveyors to serve as County Surveyors, considering it a civic duty to the community.
Outside of work, Mr. Paris loved to be surrounded by others who enjoyed learning. He served in officer positions of many organizations in both Crittenden and Caldwell Counties including the Community Arts Foundation, Masonic Lodge, Fredonia Valley Heritage Society, Caldwell County Historical Society, Trail of Tears Commission, Sons of the American Revolution, the American Legion, Shape Note Singing organizations and the Paris Cemetery Association, among others.
Pleasant Hill Regular Baptist Church was his church home. He was a regular attendee for decades and he also was the regular speaker for a few years after their pastor retired.
Besides his fulfilling work and volunteer life, his favorite past-time in the world was to have his family around him. Mr. Paris was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Nancy King Paris and his parents, William Ralph Paris Sr. and Pansy Traylor Paris. He is survived by his sister, Dietra Ann Paris, his children, Matthew Paris (Karen), Martha Paris Smith (Zak), Nancy Mills Drake & Susan Mills Sanders (Fred), and his grandchildren, Darren, Zachary and Benjamin Paris, Zak, Aidan, Zane, Zade and Pansy Smith, Merry, Sarah and Charity Drake, and Freddy and Phoebe Sanders.
Visitation will be held 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at Morgan’s Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at Morgan’s Funeral Home with Fred Sanders officiating. Burial will follow at Paris Cemetery in Crittenden County, KY.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Paris Cemetery Association, c/o Charles Hunt, 501 E. Bellville St., Marion, KY 42064.
