Ralph C. Wells

Ralph was born in the “old” Covington Memorial Hospital in March of 1944. He attended East Three Notch Elementary School (now City Hall) and graduated in 1962 from Andalusia High School. Ralph earned his college degree from the School of Business at Auburn University in 1967. He played baseball at Auburn and signed a minor league professional contract in June of 1966 with the Atlanta Braves Organization. His baseball career was interrupted while he served in the US Army which included a tour of duty in Vietnam. His work career was measured with one industry: The auto parts business. He began at TPS Distribution Center (a division of Taylor Parts) and CARQUEST for 37 years until retirement in January 2009. His responsibilities included salesman, sales manager and Business and Market Development Manager. Ralph has been a member of the First Baptist Church for more than 60 years.

Ralph and his wife, Sue, have two children, Kristen Wells Wiggins and Kim Wells Dienstl. Kristen, who is married to Russell Wiggins, resides on the farm in the Carolina Community. They have six beautiful children: Riley Grace, Maggie Ruth, Jack Russell, Mollie Jae, Pitt Steiger and Ella Grae. Kim and her husband, Keith, live in Anchorage, Alaska, and are the proud parents of a son, Kolten Ryker.

Ralph had two brothers, both of whom returned to Andalusia to rear their families, and all nine of their collective children graduated from Andalusia High School. Ralph’s mother (Orene) and father (Ashton Sr.) moved to Andalusia in 1941 from Blountstown, Florida, and raised their three boys here.