Ralph A. Franke

Services for SSG (Ret.) Ralph A. Franke, 87, of Harker Heights will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday, August 6, at Harker Heights United Methodist Church with burial to follow at 11:00 a.m. at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.

Mr. Franke died on July 31 at the VA Hospital in Temple after a long illness. He was born January 15, 1925 in New Ulm, Texas to 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 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 married Patricia R. Stanford August 14, 1948.

He was preceded in death by his parents Max and Emma Franke, Sr., 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; 7 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 7 great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation is from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. Memorials can be made to Harker Heights United Methodist Church, 208 W. Cardinal Lane, Harker Heights, Texas. 76548

You may express your condolences to the family at www.crawfordbowersfuneralhomes.com.