R. Wayne Friedrich

Ralph Wayne Friedrich died Jan. 28 at his home in Raleigh, after a year-long battle with leukemia. He was born September 11, 1939 in Austin, TX, to Paul Henry Friedrich and Nelda Heath Friedrich. After graduation from Stephen F. Austin H.S., Wayne received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas. He married Doris Paskey of Austin, TX, in September 1962. Wayne was employed with Westinghouse for 20 years, and the couple lived in Jersey City, NJ, and Pittsburgh, PA, where Wayne received his MBA from University of Pittsburgh. Eventually settling in Raleigh, NC, in 1972, Wayne moved to a new career at NC State University in 1984, where he worked until his retirement in 2004. Wayne is survived by his wife, Doris, daughter Donna Watkins of Raleigh, son Mark and daughter-in-law Johana, of Chapel Hill, NC, son Carl and daughter-in-law Bonnie of Coon Rapids, MN, granddaughter Haydon Watkins of Raleigh, brother Paul Friedrich and sister-in-law Judy Friedrich of Camano Island, WA, nephew Dr. Jeff Friedrich of Seattle, WA, and niece Andrea Friedrich Pizer of Zurich, Switzerland. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law Clay Watkins. Wayne was an avid woodworker since his retirement from NCSU. He was also a long-time volunteer at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, and a doting grandfather. A memorial service will be held at the Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27604, at 3:00 pm on Sunday, February 1, with a visitation immediately following the service. In Wayne’s memory, contributions are suggested to the J.C. Raulston Arboretum, the Salvation Army, or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; or make a blood donation to a local blood bank. The family thanks Wayne’s caregivers at Rex Hematology and Day Infusion at Rex Hospital, whose care and expertise extended his life, and to the many anonymous blood donors whose generosity improved Wayne’s quality of life while battling leukemia.