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Franke, SSGT Ralph Allen (1925-2012)
Franke, Ralph Allen
Obituary
2012
SSG (Ret.) Ralph A. Franke, 87, of Harker Heights, died on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, at the V.A. Hospital in Temple, after a long illness. Services will be at 9:30 a.m., Monday, August 6, at Harker Heights United Methodist Church with burial to follow at 11 a.m. at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday evening, at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen.
Ralph was born in New Ulm, Texas, to the late Max and Emma (Bollman) Franke, Sr. He was educated in El Campo, Texas, and entered the U. S. Army during World War II where he served 24 years before retiring in 1968. He married Patricia R. Stanford on August 14, 1948. He served in the Phillipines, Germany, Korea, Panama, and at Fort Hood. He received the World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. He was a member of Harker Heights United Methodist Church. He was also a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion. Ralph enjoyed gardening and was a devout Texas A&M and Dallas Cowboys fan. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Wilburn, Roy, Milton, and Max; sisters, Beatrice Hufstetler and Manola Mueler; and a great-granddaughter, Angel Ryan. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Patricia, of Harker Heights; son, John Franke, of Gatesville; daughters, Debora Stone, of Harker Heights, and Beth Eskew, of Waco; grandchildren, Dustin Zudell, of Tinker AFB, Jennifer Ryan, of Gatesville, Shannon Gormley, of Killeen, Brandon Panter, of Waco, Johnathan Panter, of Waco, David Stone, Jr., of Temple, and Gwylene LeFever, of Temple; 14 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. B10 |
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Franke
Ralph Allen
3849
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