Ralph Erickson, Sr.

Born in Cambridge, Minnesota on January 17, 1926

Departed on March 30, 2019 and resided in Nashville, Tennessee

Ralph D. Erickson, Sr., age 93 passed away on March 30, 2019. He was born on January 17, 1926, to Gustaf Erickson and Hannah Elida Olson, on a farm in Cambridge, Minnesota, and is preceded in death by two brothers, Reinhold and Donald, and a sister, Evelyn and by his wife of 60 years, Jean Smith Erickson. He went to a one-room schoolhouse in the country, then to high school in Cambridge where he was elected president of both his freshman and senior classes. He served in the Army Transportation Corps in England and France during WWII and was honorably discharged with the rank of Technical Sargent. Ralph received a Bachelor of Music Cum Laude in 1949 from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He sang in the Vikings Male Chorus and in his Senior year was selected to direct the chorus which is no longer student directed. Ralph received his Master of Arts degree in Music Education from Teachers' College of Columbia University in New York in 1951. He was hired as Minister of Music at St Paul's Lutheran Church in Wilmington, NC; then as Choir Director at Canterbury Methodist Church in Birmingham, AL, while teaching music history, organ, piano, and serving as the male chorus director at then Howard College (now Stamford U). Ralph then became organist/choir director at McKendree Methodist Church in Nashville for ten years. He was named organist/choir director at First Lutheran Church in 1964 which position he held for 42 years. He was also the bass soloist and cantorial soloist at the Jewish Temple Ohabai Sholom, taught for a number of years in the Hebrew School, and then became the organist and director of the choir for 30 years. He retired after 50 years of service at the Temple. Ralph taught piano and organ at Austin Peay University for two years and substituted at Belmont College and at many Nashville area churches. He gave pipe organ recitals in Minnesota, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, New York and Tennessee and sang with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s. Ralph served as Dean of the Nashville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists for three 2 year terms, and was Treasurer for 12 years. He is survived by children, Ralph Jr. and Kathleen (Mrs. Noel Bullock); and 2 grandsons, Gus and Sam Bullock, as well as many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. Ralph was known for his infectious smile and was very fit for his whole life enjoying travel, playing and watching sports, gardening, reading and collecting stamps and coins. His love of family and commitment to the church and the Temple are a lasting example of a life well lived.

A Life Celebration will be held on April 13th at 2 PM at First Lutheran Church (113 8th Avenue S, Nashville) with visitation two hours prior to the service. In place of flowers, those who wish may make donations to the Nashville Chapter of the AGO.

Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, 9090 Hwy 100, Nashville, TN, 37221, 615-646-9292, harpethhills.com