Ralph Lewis Farrar (1934-2006)

FARRAR, DUNBAR, GISH

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 10/28/2006 at 08:21:51

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Friday, October 27, 2006.

Ralph Lewis Farrar
Nov. 14, 1934-Oct. 25, 2006
Ralph Lewis Farrar died Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Israel Family Hospice House. His life will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at First United Methodist Church in Ames.

Ralph Lewis Farrar was born Nov. 14, 1934, in Burwell, Neb. His early years were spent in Barnston and Red Cloud, Neb., graduating from Red Cloud High School in 1952. He earned a bachelor's degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb., in 1956. He went on to receive a master's of education in 1957 and a doctorate of education in 1969 from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

He began his teaching career at the Men's State Reformatory and Millard-Lefler Junior High in Lincoln, Neb., in 1954. Then he was the high school principal at Wilber, Neb., from 1957-58; assistant principal at Westside High School in Omaha, Neb., from 1962-69; high school principal at Ames from 1969-94; and then deputy superintendent of schools for the Ames School District until 1998.

While at Nebraska Wesleyan, he met "my lovely bride," Mary Jo Dunbar, and they were married for more than 51 years. They have three sons, Kirk, of Burlington, Kelley (Kim), of Ames, and Kris (Jennifer), of Iowa City. He also has two grandsons, Nathan, of Des Moines, and Sean, of Ames.

He was a member of many professional organizations such as Phi Delta Kappa educational fraternity, the Iowa and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Association for the Supervision of Curriculum Development, and a member of the State Steering Committee of the North Central Association. His professional activities were widespread and diverse including the chairperson for 18 North Central evaluation teams, chairperson for the North Central Association visitation teams for the Department of Defense Schools in Germany, and a member of the Central Iowa Health Committee, to name just a few.

As part of his continuing commitment to the children of Ames, after his retirement from the Ames Schools system, he worked as a mentoring coordinator for the GRIP Program through Youth and Shelter Services of Ames, from which he finally retired in 2006.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Sadie; and by one sister, Joan Gish.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at First United Methodist Church, with a short prayer service at 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Ames High Education Foundation, Ralph Farrar Media Center at Ames High School, First United Methodist Church or Youth and Shelter Services of Ames.

Adams Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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