Ralph Brinkley Passes Away
Ralph Brinkley who was named Bowman Gray Stadium’s most popular driver 11 times and winner of eight modified track championships, died peacefully on December 6, 2023.
Born Ralph Lee Brinkley to Paul Lee Brinkley and Pearl Marie Wood on December 2, 1939, in Davidson County, Ralph grew up loving cars and anything that would go fast. At Bowman Gray Stadium, he won 64 races and one Hobby Championship. Most of the cars, he built himself, even down to the frames. But cars weren’t his only passion. In 1983 he got his private pilot’s license. He became addicted to flying airplanes, owning, and piloting a Piper Cherokee. And, true to his mechanical nature, he even decided to build an RV 7-A plane, along with Evelyn every step of the way at the Lexington Airport hangar. Ralph was the true Renaissance man. He was a scuba diver, a collector of old cars, an automotive machinist, a welder, a real estate broker, and owner/operator of Brinkley and Sons Automotive and used car dealership. Ralph was also currently serving on the Advisory Committee of the Davidson-Davie Community College Transportation Technology Program. As a service to his country, Ralph hosted Robin Sage, the training of Special Forces on his private runway at home four times a year, something he had done for the past 12 years. He loved boating, canoeing and even waterskiing, back in the day. And, of course, going to air shows at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Sun N Fun in Lakeland, Florida.
Ralph was inducted into the Davidson County Sports Hall of Fame on October 20, 2012.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and a brother-in-law, Moses Luther, and his beloved Poodle Doodles.
Left to cherish his memory is the love of his life, Evelyn Tate, his children, Ralph Lee Brinkley, Jr. (Saprina), Rickey Lee Brinkley (Wendy), and Laura Leigh Brinkley Lilly; his sisters, Linda Luther, Brenda Baker (Nick) and Mary Ingram (Gene); 11 grandchildren, Aleigha Brinkley, Layla Brinkley, Saprina Lee Brinkley, Ralph Lee Brinkley III, Evan Brinkley, Ethan Brinkley, Ryley Brinkley, Taylor Brinkley, Haley Brewster, Morgan Lilly and Nathan Lilly; 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, many pit crew members, his dogs, Cleco and Jill, and special cat PK.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you instead donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Bethesda United Methodist Church at 2922 Bethesda Rd., Lexington.
The family will visit with friends, family, and fans on Sunday, December 10, 2023 from 4:00 to 7:00PM at Davidson Funeral Home, Lexington location.
A private service will be held for Ralph, and then a celebration of life that will be open to the public will be held at a later date.
Davidson Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel is serving the family.
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Sources: Davidson Funeral Home- Lexington