Ralph H. Hendrickson, 88, of Tulsa, OK passed away Friday, May 23, 2025, after a brief, courageous battle with cancer. Ralph was born to Roy Hendrickson and Helena (nee Rose) Hendrickson on April 5, 1937, in Carthage, Missouri, where he grew up the youngest of 3 boys. The stories from his childhood are some of his fondest memories.
In 1959, Ralph married Carolyn West, and they began a blessed 44 years together. They lived in Carthage and Joplin where Ralph was a member of the Missouri National Guard for 6 years and went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Missouri in 1963.
In 1964 they moved to Kansas City, Missouri where they made wonderful friends and raised two children, Stacy and Andrew and enjoyed being active at Northgate Baptist Church. As adoptive parents often do, Ralph and Carolyn cherished the role of parenting and never missed a school performance, sporting event or dance recital. With the heart of a warrior, Ralph was a sweet, loving caregiver to Carolyn throughout a serious health crisis that led to her passing in 2003.
Ralph had lifelong career as a purchasing agent in the welding industry from which he retired in 2006 to begin a 2nd wonderful life after reconnecting with a high school friend who had also lost her spouse to cancer. Ralph married Docia McCloud (nee Marshall) in 2008 and they spent 17 magical years together traveling, attending jazz concerts, laughing and loving their collective brood of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ralph loved basketball, cycling and staying busy. He will be remembered for his unwavering kindness, willingness to help others, infallible free-throw and his frequent use of the “heart-eyes” emoji to remind you that he loved you! He truly embodied a faithful-servant approach to life and made life better for everyone who knew him.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Carolyn, sister-in-law Patsy Hendrickson (nee Pfenninger) and bonus daughter Kitty Estes. Survivors include his wife, Docia Hendrickson; daughter, Stacy Harmon and husband, Scott, Kansas City, MO; son, Andrew Hendrickson, Kansas City, MO; bonus kids Mark Grimes and Kari Long, brothers Richard Hendrickson, Rodney Hendrickson and wife Ruthie; brother-in-law, Gerald West and wife, Nana; sister-in-law Marsha Delaney (nee Marshall); four grandsons, Chase, Riley, and Cooper Harmon and Blake Hendrickson; bonus grands, Theo Estes, Marshall Estes (Jim Hennessey), Josh Long, Amy Long; great-grandchildren Luna and Lillian; nieces and nephews Scott, Debby, Grant, Paul, Chuck, Lori, Ann and Ngaire plus treasured friends Leon and Karen Boothe of Cincinnati, OH, and Ken Haston of Kansas City MO.
Tulsa, OK Arrangements: A memorial for family and friends was held in the chapel at the Harvard Avenue Christian Church on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Kansas City, MO Arrangements: A Celebration of Life is being planned for June 2025 with details to be announced later.
