Ralph Marvin Yount, 76, of Lexington, passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2020. Born in Rock Hill, S.C. on March 14, 1943, he was the son of the late Frank David Yount and Ruby Elsie Lockaby Yount of Union, S.C. Ralph was happily married to the love of his life, Cynthia (Cyndy) Branham Yount for 30 years. Surviving, in addition to his wife, is his daughter Cynthia Y. Brown (David) of Columbia, and son Ranze Dobbins (Carla) of Spartanburg, S.C.; brother Cecil J. Yount (Jimmie) and sister Donna Horne ( Jerry), both of Jonesville, S.C., two nieces, two nephews, and a number of great nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, a niece, Teresa Yount Culver, predeceased him.
In 1960, Ralph joined the U.S. Navy. Ralph was blind in his left eye from a birth defect and was discharged after only 27 days. Not one to accept failure, he started his law enforcement career at the Aiken Police Department in 1970. His brother Cecil joined the South Carolina Highway Patrol. And so the childhood competition between the brothers was reignited. It continued until the very end…both Ralph and Cecil owned the fastest, best-looking Dodge Challengers in town!
Aiken Police Department is where Ralph first met Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, who was just a teenager at the time. Sheriff Lott always looked up to Ralph as a fine example of what a police officer should be. Leon recognized that Ralph didn’t just scold him and his friends when they got in trouble, write them speeding tickets, or arrest them for violations; he tried to mentor them and change the direction of their lives for the better. Leon later credited Ralph as being one of the reasons he decided upon a career in law enforcement.
Ralph graduated from South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, not once but twice, and received the Top Marksmanship Award. Perhaps he did so well because as it turned out, he didn’t have to close his non-dominant eye. He also completed SWAT training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., one of his proudest achievements. He spent the majority of his law enforcement career in the Traffic Division at Lexington County Sheriff ’s Department, probably because he loved driving so very much. Ralph never took his responsibility to serve and protect lightly, and he was instrumental in the founding of Midlands CrimeStoppers, the local tips hotline that has resulted in literally thousands of arrests since its inception. Ralph had a deep passion for his 25-year career and retired in 2000 as a Master Deputy.
Ralph was one of those rare intellects who succeeded at two completely different careers in one short lifetime. Technology was Ralph’s lifelong hobby and learning all about innovative Apple computers came naturally to him. Ralph was proud to have purchased the first Mac to arrive in Columbia. It had a 2-digit serial number. Mr. Mac Computer Services was founded 2001. He and his wife, Cyndy, have been essential partners to Columbia’s communications industry for the past 19 years. Initially serving the advertising, printing, and media companies, Mr. Mac later grew into working with schools and churches as Apple’s popularity grew. Helping residential clients was also a huge part of their success. Ralph would often say that he had Apple juice running through his veins. He was Apple’s number one fan.
It is an understatement to say Mr. Mac touched many lives and helped many people. He was, after all, the undisputed local expert on Macintosh computers. He was also the compassionate cop who lectured you rather than writing you a ticket. Ralph’s knowledge, jovial nature, and huge smile will be missed.
In death, as in life, Ralph was a generous, caring man. Ralph arranged to have his body donated to the USC School of Medicine through the Gift of Body Program.
A Celebration of Life Service is being planned for a later date. Donations in his honor can be made to Mission Lexington, 216 Harmon Street, Lexington, S.C. 29072. missionlexingtonsc.org/donate
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