CDR Ralph Anthony Dorsett, Sr., USNR (RET), 67, died on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006 at Serenity Gate after a 15 month illness with cancer. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday at the Perry First Baptist Church with Dr. Gene Bowman and Rev. Bob Price offciating. Rev. Rick Parker will officiate at Evergreen Cemetery and the Navy will provide Full Military Honors. The family will receive friends at the residence, 1100 Ridge Circle South, Perry.
Mr. Dorsett was born on November 19, 1939 in Byron, Georgia, the son of the late Marvin and Maggie Ruth Dorsett. He was preceded in death by his son, Ralph Anthony (Rad) Dorsett, Jr., and his brother, Kemp Dorsett.
A member of the Perry Frist Baptist Church, he was in the Buice Sunday School Class.
CDR Dorsett served as an anti submarine warfare plane commander with VP-44 while on active duty in the United States Navy. He continued to serve his country for 17 additional years in the Navy Reserves with Patrol Squadron 62, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, retiring in 1995. He began farming with his father in 1976, land that has been in his family since 1856.
He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the E. H. Cheek Scholarship Fund, on the Board of Directors of Houston County Farm Bureau, Board of Directors of the Perry-Houston County Airport Authority, Board of Trust for the Westfield Schools, member of the Houston County Young Farmers and Agribusinessmen’s Assocation and member of the Order of the Daedalians.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Joan Roper Dorsett; sister, Sally D. Bazemore (Ken) of Byron; brother, Jimmy Dorsett (Brenda) of Norcross; sister-in-law, Nancy Dorsett Wadsworth (Ray) of Arley, Alabama; nine nieces and nephews. The family suggests donations to the E.H. Cheek Scholarship Fund, c/o Dr. Argene Claxton, Perry High School, 1307 North Ave., Perry, Georgia 31069 or Heart of Georgia Hospice, 103 Westridge Drive, Warner Robins, Georgia 31088. Please sign the online register at watsonhunt.com
