Ralph Edwin Windham

Ralph Edwin Windham of Little Rock, Ark. peacefully passed away Saturday, April 26, 2014, with the same strength, courage and determination of which he lived his life. Ralph was born August 2, 1924 in Italy, TX to William Isom Windham and Lizzie Lee Caudle Windham of Bardwell, Texas. He was the fourth of five children: Allene Windham Almand, Georgiana Windham Johnson, Samuel Windham and Billy Lee Windham. Only Billy Windham of San Marcos, Texas survives Ralph. Ralph is also survived by his wife of 68 years, Ida Allene Roberts Windham, of Little Rock, Ark. Ralph and Allene were married April 6, 1946 in Waxahachie, Texas. They worked side by side to create and sustain a close-knit family through career changes and relocations; economic depression, inflation and recession; serious illnesses and injuries; and, the rewards and challenge of raising a family. He is survived by his three daughters: Sharland Glenn Windham Dietz of Edmond, Okla.; Sarah Lee Windham Forsyth of Fort Worth, Texas; and Dr. Shirley Edwin Windham Reid of Little Rock, Ark. Six grandchildren survive him: Jonathan Eric Kirkpatrick; Aaron Harris Forsyth and his wife, Rachel Forsyth; Ashlan Paige Reid Davis and her husband, Martin Davis; Austin McQueen Forsyth; Emily Rebecca Reid Greenwood and her husband, Matthew Greenwood; and, Caitlin Windham Reid and her fiancé, Steven McKee. Five great-grandchildren surviving him are: Haydn Kirkpatrick, Sydney Forsyth, Wyatt Forsyth, Carew Davis and Thomas Greenwood. Numerous nieces, nephews, and their children additionally survive him. Ralph graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1943. He attended Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. He followed in his parents and grandparents footsteps and farmed in Ellis County. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945 and returned home to Texas to marry Allene and continue farming until the seven-year drought of the 1950s. He then moved his family to Waco, Texas, where he worked at the first major tire factory in the southwest General Tire and Rubber Plant. Ralph then accepted employment with the Frito Company and moved his family to Marlin, Texas. He was a salesman and later a sale manager for Frito, now a division of PepsiCo, Inc., in Marlin, Waco and Fort Worth, Texas. He retired in 1985 and became licensed to be a private pilot and airplane mechanic as a retirement career. He and Allene then moved to Little Rock, Ark. Ralph was raised in a Southern Baptist family. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at a young age while attending a traditional tent revival and was baptized in Chambers Creek in Ellis County. Ralph and Allene raised their daughters in the Southern Baptist Church, faithfully tithed, taught Sunday School and did local mission work in impoverished communities. Ralph was a greeter and usher for many years primarily at University Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Finding a new church home was always a priority when Ralph and Allene relocated over the years. Ralph last attended services on Easter Sunday with Allene at Presbyterian Village where they both resided for the last year. A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Presbyterian Village, 510 Brookside Dr., Little Rock, Ark. 72205. A graveside service will be arranged at Bethel Cemetery near Waxahachie at a later date. The family requests memorials to be given to Faith United Methodist Church, Little Rock, Ark. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.