Ralph Francis Moss, 78, of Austin, Texas, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and the many new friends he made during his time in hospice. Much like the rest of his life, he never met a stranger, and even near the end, his warmth and engaging personality continued to shine.
Ralph was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Ralph H. and Ada (née Kroell) Moss. He lived an exciting life, particularly during his early years in New York City, where his creativity and energy left a mark on the music scene, working with many influential artists, including Eric Clapton, Gladys Knight and Lou Reed. Yet for all his adventures, his greatest joy was found in his family. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend, Ralph is preceded in death by his parents and survived by his wife of 43 years, Julie; his daughters, Rebecca (Forest) and Haylie (Drew); his four grandchildren, Mathis, Harper, Everett and Blake; and his sisters, Regina (Randy), Roberta (Jerry), and Roseann (Dan). He took immense pride in the people he loved and supported them with genuine joy and devotion.
Ralph cherished life’s simple pleasures: a cold beer with oysters or wings on a sunny day, good company, watching whichever sporting event happened to be on, and frequent trips to St. George Island with his family during his years spent in Tallahassee, Florida. These shared moments—full of laughter and lively conversation—captured the essence of Ralph.
He will be remembered for his kindness, boundless enthusiasm, and remarkable ability to make everyone feel welcome. The next time you find yourself enjoying pleasant weather, a drink in hand, and good conversation with family or friends (old or new), please raise a small cheer in his honor. He would have loved that.
A memorial and celebration of Ralph’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to any charity that holds personal significance, in remembrance of Ralph. The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Beacon Hospice for their compassionate care, which brought comfort to Ralph and his loved ones during his final days.