Ralph Emerson Alden II, 57, died Sunday, August 22, 2021.  He was a resident of Indianapolis.  He was born September 27, 1963, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  His parents were Ralph Emerson Alden and Sheila Kay (Carpenter) Buhneing.

Survivors include his daughter, Ashley Ann Alden (Mike Faver); his four grandchildren, Aubrey Faver, Jordan Faver, Lilian Faver, and David Faver; his three sisters, Diana K. Gatchell, Stephanie Alden Smithey (T.J.), and Christina K. Hanley (Anthony); his uncle, Terry K. Carpenter; his aunt J. K. Carpenter; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Chad Gatchell.

He was a direct descendent of John Alden who came over on the Mayflower.  He was a 1982 graduate of Center Grove High School.  He graduated from ITT Technical Institute in 1987 with an associate's degree in electrical engineering/design.  He was a Senior Design Engineer for Transportation Safety Technologies (TSD) for 23 years.  Anyone who knew Ralph knew that, like his father, he loved everything about cars: buying, selling, trading, building, rebuilding, and drag racing.  In 2010, Ralph formed a business known as Heavy Hydros, manufacturing racing equipment for GM single and dual range hydromatic transmissions.  Over the years, he owned many loud and fast cars, but his favorite became the Hudson. In 2010, Ralph started working at Wildrick Hudson Restoration Shop, doing what he described as his "dream job" restoring classic cars.  He spent his free time rebuilding, showing and racing his own award-winning 1950 Hudson Hornet.  He became an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance in 2013 and had been the office manager for The Chase Agency in Greenwood since 2016.

Friends may call on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 1977 S. State Road 135 in Greenwood from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Family eulogies will begin at 6:30pm.