Ralph Alexander Barnhardt, Jr. “Alex”

Ralph Alexander Barnhardt, Jr. “Alex” died Monday, November 28, 2022 at Morningside of Concord after a 25-year battle with Neurofibromatosis-Type 2. He was born April 10, 1973 to Ralph A. Barnhardt, Sr. and the late Sandra Burris Barnhardt. Alex graduated from Concord High School in 1991 and from Wingate University in 1997. He worked for Speedway Motor Sports before his diagnosis with NF2.

Alex grew up in Concord and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He and his dad enjoyed hunting and fishing trips together to Primland in Meadows of Dan, Va., Texas, the Eastern Shore and the Outer Banks. He had several special farm ponds in Cabarrus County where he fished with friends. Alex loved Labrador Retrievers and was the proud owner of 3 during his life. He was also a Nascar enthusiast, loving Dale Earnhardt with a passion and a Carolina Tarheel fan. He loved his mom’s cooking and proudly named one of her cakes “divine cake” and the family has called it that ever since.

Alex loved playing the drums. He was in the CHS band and in later years taught drum lessons as a volunteer at the Cabarrus County Boys and Girls Club. He also spent time volunteering at the food pantry at the Cooperative Christian Ministry.

Alex grew up at St. John’s Lutheran, Concord and as an adult joined St. James Lutheran. Services will be held at 1 pm on Friday, December 2 at St. James Lutheran Church, 104 Union Street, South in Concord, NC. The family will receive friends at Wilkinson Funeral Home Thursday evening, December 1 from 5-7pm. A private burial will take place later.

Memorials can be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County or to the Ralph A. and Sandra B. Barnhardt Endowed Scholarship Fund by mailing a check to Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation, 920 Church Street, North, Concord, NC 28025 or online at www.cabarrushealthcarefoundation.org