Ralph Gray Judkins went home to meet the Lord on July 3, 2023. He was 93 years old and had lived a full rewarding life.
Ralph was born on November 7, 1929, just a few days after the beginning of the Great Depression. He was born in Drop, Texas in a quiet corner of Denton County to Connie Cole Judkins and Jimmie Dee Wilson Judkins. Times were hard but long days on the farm and lessons learned made strong men that had no quit in them. Ralph was forged in those times and those lessons never left him. He often said, "can't never could do anything". He began his school days in a one room schoolhouse on a dusty Denton County back road. He rode his horse, Bell, to and from school from the age of six until he started middle school. Imagine letting a kid ride a horse six miles to and from school these days. He later formed a lifelong friendship with J C Fenimore. They hunted together and sold possum and coon hides at the local store to make a few dollars during the depression. They always kept in touch, swapping stories and hunting together well into their 70's. Ralph later attended Denton High School where he was a good student and played on the football team. He graduated high school in 1947. Ralph attended college at what is now the University of North Texas before moving on to other endeavors. In January of 1951, he was called into military service. After basic training, he was trained as a forward observer and immediately sent to Korea to take part in the Korean War. He served proudly in the 2nd Division of the Army in Korea from 1951 to 1952. He would never forget his days in the army though he seldom spoke of them. After returning home, he began work at Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing in Dallas, Texas where he planned to work for a short time. Thirty years later, he finally left Kroehler and his many friends and retired. He could not sit for long and took a few jobs for a few years before finally retiring for good in 1992. He spent his final 31 years on his farm in Ravenna, TX where he enjoyed his time with his wife Kathryn, his dogs Jake I, Mac and Tosh, and Jake II, who he considered his best friend. Ralph was a husband, dad, papa, friend, farmer, rancher, mechanic, tinkerer and a kind man to all that knew him. He never knew a stranger and could carry on a conversation for hours. After guests were ready to head home, he would often say, "what's your rush". "Pull up a chair and stay a while". His smile was infectious, and he delighted in having visitors. He loved his family and his simple country life. He would sit under a shade tree for hours and watch the cows graze while listening to bluegrass music on what he called his music box, commonly known as an iPod. He also enjoyed restoring antique farm tractors. Most of his later years were spent in his shop on the farm. If he could not find a part for his project, he would simply build one. His shop was his happy place and tinkering gave him great pleasure. His other pastimes were blue grass music and home-grown cooking.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents and son Mike Rice. He is survived by his wife Kathryn Judkins of 48 years; son Arnold Judkins and wife Debbie, daughter Rhonda Greathouse and husband Bill, daughter Kathy Fowler, daughter Janet Shaffer and husband Mark, daughter Georgia Cameron and husband Doug, and son Alan Pierce. Ralph was also survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren who adored their papa.
Please join the family in honoring the life of Ralph on Sunday, July 9, 2023 with a 1pm visitation and a 2pm service at Boyd Baptist Church, Bonham, Texas. Burial will follow at Carson Cemetery.
Ralph was born on November 7, 1929, just a few days after the beginning of the Great Depression. He was born in Drop, Texas in a quiet corner of Denton County to Connie Cole Judkins and Jimmie Dee Wilson Judkins. Times were hard but long days on the farm and lessons learned made strong men that had no quit in them. Ralph was forged in those times and those lessons never left him. He often said, "can't never could do anything". He began his school days in a one room schoolhouse on a dusty Denton County back road. He rode his horse, Bell, to and from school from the age of six until he started middle school. Imagine letting a kid ride a horse six miles to and from school these days. He later formed a lifelong friendship with J C Fenimore. They hunted together and sold possum and coon hides at the local store to make a few dollars during the depression. They always kept in touch, swapping stories and hunting together well into their 70's. Ralph later attended Denton High School where he was a good student and played on the football team. He graduated high school in 1947. Ralph attended college at what is now the University of North Texas before moving on to other endeavors. In January of 1951, he was called into military service. After basic training, he was trained as a forward observer and immediately sent to Korea to take part in the Korean War. He served proudly in the 2nd Division of the Army in Korea from 1951 to 1952. He would never forget his days in the army though he seldom spoke of them. After returning home, he began work at Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing in Dallas, Texas where he planned to work for a short time. Thirty years later, he finally left Kroehler and his many friends and retired. He could not sit for long and took a few jobs for a few years before finally retiring for good in 1992. He spent his final 31 years on his farm in Ravenna, TX where he enjoyed his time with his wife Kathryn, his dogs Jake I, Mac and Tosh, and Jake II, who he considered his best friend. Ralph was a husband, dad, papa, friend, farmer, rancher, mechanic, tinkerer and a kind man to all that knew him. He never knew a stranger and could carry on a conversation for hours. After guests were ready to head home, he would often say, "what's your rush". "Pull up a chair and stay a while". His smile was infectious, and he delighted in having visitors. He loved his family and his simple country life. He would sit under a shade tree for hours and watch the cows graze while listening to bluegrass music on what he called his music box, commonly known as an iPod. He also enjoyed restoring antique farm tractors. Most of his later years were spent in his shop on the farm. If he could not find a part for his project, he would simply build one. His shop was his happy place and tinkering gave him great pleasure. His other pastimes were blue grass music and home-grown cooking.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents and son Mike Rice. He is survived by his wife Kathryn Judkins of 48 years; son Arnold Judkins and wife Debbie, daughter Rhonda Greathouse and husband Bill, daughter Kathy Fowler, daughter Janet Shaffer and husband Mark, daughter Georgia Cameron and husband Doug, and son Alan Pierce. Ralph was also survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren who adored their papa.
Please join the family in honoring the life of Ralph on Sunday, July 9, 2023 with a 1pm visitation and a 2pm service at Boyd Baptist Church, Bonham, Texas. Burial will follow at Carson Cemetery.
Ralph Gray Judkins went home to meet the Lord on July 3, 2023. He was 93 years old and had lived a full rewarding life.
Ralph was born on November 7, 1929, just a few days after the beginning of the Great Depression. He was born in Drop, Texas in a quiet corner of Denton County to Connie Cole Judkins and Jimmie Dee Wilson Judkins. Times were hard but long days on the farm and lessons learned made strong men that had no quit in them. Ralph was forged in those times and those lessons never left him. He often said, "can't never could do anything". He began his school days in a one room schoolhouse on a dusty Denton County back road. He rode his horse, Bell, to and from school from the age of six until he started middle school. Imagine letting a kid ride a horse six miles to and from school these days. He later formed a lifelong friendship with J C Fenimore. They hunted together and sold possum and coon hides at the local store to make a few dollars during the depression. They always kept in touch, swapping stories and hunting together well into their 70's. Ralph later attended Denton High School where he was a good student and played on the football team. He graduated high school in 1947. Ralph attended college at what is now the University of North Texas before moving on to other endeavors. In January of 1951, he was called into military service. After basic training, he was trained as a forward observer and immediately sent to Korea to take part in the Korean War. He served proudly in the 2nd Division of the Army in Korea from 1951 to 1952. He would never forget his days in the army though he seldom spoke of them. After returning home, he began work at Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing in Dallas, Texas where he planned to work for a short time. Thirty years later, he finally left Kroehler and his many friends and retired. He could not sit for long and took a few jobs for a few years before finally retiring for good in 1992. He spent his final 31 years on his farm in Ravenna, TX where he enjoyed his time with his wife Kathryn, his dogs Jake I, Mac and Tosh, and Jake II, who he considered his best friend. Ralph was a husband, dad, papa, friend, farmer, rancher, mechanic, tinkerer and a kind man to all that knew him. He never knew a stranger and could carry on a conversation for hours. After guests were ready to head home, he would often say, "what's your rush". "Pull up a chair and stay a while". His smile was infectious, and he delighted in having visitors. He loved his family and his simple country life. He would sit under a shade tree for hours and watch the cows graze while listening to bluegrass music on what he called his music box, commonly known as an iPod. He also enjoyed restoring antique farm tractors. Most of his later years were spent in his shop on the farm. If he could not find a part for his project, he would simply build one. His shop was his happy place and tinkering gave him great pleasure. His other pastimes were blue grass music and home-grown cooking.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents and son Mike Rice. He is survived by his wife Kathryn Judkins of 48 years; son Arnold Judkins and wife Debbie, daughter Rhonda Greathouse and husband Bill, daughter Kathy Fowler, daughter Janet Shaffer and husband Mark, daughter Georgia Cameron and husband Doug, and son Alan Pierce. Ralph was also survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren who adored their papa.
Please join the family in honoring the life of Ralph on Sunday, July 9, 2023 with a 1pm visitation and a 2pm service at Boyd Baptist Church, Bonham, Texas. Burial will follow at Carson Cemetery.
Ralph was born on November 7, 1929, just a few days after the beginning of the Great Depression. He was born in Drop, Texas in a quiet corner of Denton County to Connie Cole Judkins and Jimmie Dee Wilson Judkins. Times were hard but long days on the farm and lessons learned made strong men that had no quit in them. Ralph was forged in those times and those lessons never left him. He often said, "can't never could do anything". He began his school days in a one room schoolhouse on a dusty Denton County back road. He rode his horse, Bell, to and from school from the age of six until he started middle school. Imagine letting a kid ride a horse six miles to and from school these days. He later formed a lifelong friendship with J C Fenimore. They hunted together and sold possum and coon hides at the local store to make a few dollars during the depression. They always kept in touch, swapping stories and hunting together well into their 70's. Ralph later attended Denton High School where he was a good student and played on the football team. He graduated high school in 1947. Ralph attended college at what is now the University of North Texas before moving on to other endeavors. In January of 1951, he was called into military service. After basic training, he was trained as a forward observer and immediately sent to Korea to take part in the Korean War. He served proudly in the 2nd Division of the Army in Korea from 1951 to 1952. He would never forget his days in the army though he seldom spoke of them. After returning home, he began work at Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing in Dallas, Texas where he planned to work for a short time. Thirty years later, he finally left Kroehler and his many friends and retired. He could not sit for long and took a few jobs for a few years before finally retiring for good in 1992. He spent his final 31 years on his farm in Ravenna, TX where he enjoyed his time with his wife Kathryn, his dogs Jake I, Mac and Tosh, and Jake II, who he considered his best friend. Ralph was a husband, dad, papa, friend, farmer, rancher, mechanic, tinkerer and a kind man to all that knew him. He never knew a stranger and could carry on a conversation for hours. After guests were ready to head home, he would often say, "what's your rush". "Pull up a chair and stay a while". His smile was infectious, and he delighted in having visitors. He loved his family and his simple country life. He would sit under a shade tree for hours and watch the cows graze while listening to bluegrass music on what he called his music box, commonly known as an iPod. He also enjoyed restoring antique farm tractors. Most of his later years were spent in his shop on the farm. If he could not find a part for his project, he would simply build one. His shop was his happy place and tinkering gave him great pleasure. His other pastimes were blue grass music and home-grown cooking.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents and son Mike Rice. He is survived by his wife Kathryn Judkins of 48 years; son Arnold Judkins and wife Debbie, daughter Rhonda Greathouse and husband Bill, daughter Kathy Fowler, daughter Janet Shaffer and husband Mark, daughter Georgia Cameron and husband Doug, and son Alan Pierce. Ralph was also survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren who adored their papa.
Please join the family in honoring the life of Ralph on Sunday, July 9, 2023 with a 1pm visitation and a 2pm service at Boyd Baptist Church, Bonham, Texas. Burial will follow at Carson Cemetery.
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