Ralph Edwin Walker

WALKER, RALPH EDWIN Lt. Col. Ralph Edwin Walker, Retired age 88, of Waco passed away Sunday, April 27, 2003 in a local hospital. Services will be held at 2pm Wednesday, April 30 at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Stephen Ramsdell officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood. Visitation with the family will be from 6:30-8:00pm Tuesday, April 29 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque Blvd. Ralph was born March 21, 1915, in Paris, Texas to Flossie and Grover C. Walker. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a Squadron Commander in the South Pacific for three years during World War II. Additionally in the Air Force, he served in the Military Advisory Group as a liaison officer with the French Navy in Indo-China during 1954 and 1955. After 27 years of military service, he retired from the Air Force in 1960 as a Lt. Colonel. He then began working for civilian contractors in Aviation Services for the Air Force, most notably with Northrop-Gramman Corporation. In this capacity he served as Vice President of Operations in Iran and also served in Taif and Daharan, Saudi Arabia. From Saudi Arabia he returned to California to work with Northop-Gramman Corporation until his retirement in 1981. His last and favorite career was as a rancher at his beloved Pecan Creek Ranch in McGregor, Texas. His greatest joys were having his children and grandchildren enjoying fishing and swimming in the creek, picnics at the ranch, hayrides, tours in his pick-up, and pony rides on Tonto. He and his wife, Mary, were very active members of First United Methodist Church in Waco, where they were devoted participants in the O’Dell Dudley Sunday School Class. Ralph regularly attended the Thursday morning Men’s Prayer Breakfast, and loved being a part of the Bible Study Fellowship every Monday night for his last six years. It is noted that Ralph’s love for God and His Word had greatly increased in his later years of life. He was devoted to his family who meant everything to him. Ralph is survived by his wife Mary Elizabeth Ridlehuber Walker of Waco; daughters, Susan Coffey and husband, John of Dallas; and Jean Stewart and husband, Jimmy of Conroe; son, Doug Walker and wife, Peggy of Tulsa; grandchildren, Beth, Meg and David Coffey of Dallas, Amanda Black and husband, Jason and Allison Stewart of Houston, Sarah and Adam Kessler of Tulsa; brothers, David S. Lindsey and Pete Lindsey of Paris; and nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Honorary pallbearers are Members of the Odell Dudley Sunday School Class of First United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Waco. The family invites you to leave a message or memory at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com by selecting obituaries. Select “Sign Memorial Guestbook” at the top of the individual Memorial. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY