Arnold Ralph Amburn, Sr. age 84 of Galax, Virginia passed away Saturday, February 27, 2016 in the Waddell Nursing and Rehab Center.

Ralph was born on June 29, 1931 to Truman and Mary Branscomb Amburn. He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers Ernest Amburn and Elmo Amburn. After graduation from Hillsville High School in 1951, he joined the United States Navy, where upon completing basic training, he was stationed on the USS Jarvis DD799, a destroyer serving in the Korean War. Amburn, who was a radio-man on the destroyer, sailed around the world three times and received numerous ribbons and awards for his meritorious service. He was retired from almost twenty years of service with the Virginia Department of Corrections in Powhatan and Pulaski. H

He is survived by his wife Maggie Taylor Frazier Amburn and four children Arnold Ralph Amburn, Jr., Harriett Amburn Barnard, Troy Camden Amburn, Alice Amburn Horton. Also surviving are six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two sisters and one brother. These survivors are Debra Boyles, David Amburn, and Danielle Edwards of Buckingham, Va., Kallie, Getty and Emma Barnard of Amelia, Va. , McKinley Horton of Hardy, Va., Linda Amburn, Brenda Collins, Roy Lee Amburn all of Hillsville, Virginia.

The funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 3:00 PM in the First United Methodist Church where he was a member with the Rev. Richard Gregory officiating. Burial will follow in the Monta Vista Cemetery. Military Rites will be conducted by the Grayson VFW Post 7726. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 1:00 PM until time for the funeral service at the First United Methodist Church. Flowers will be appreciated or memorials may be made to the Shriner's Children's Hospital or to the charity of one's choice.