Sidney Ralph Tompkins, 92, went home to be with Jesus on Thursday morning, May 18, 2017.
Service: 2 p.m. Friday, May 26, 2017, at Saginaw United Methodist Church. Private committal at Saginaw Cemetery.
Memorials: Community Link Mission, 300 S. Belmont, Saginaw, TX 76179 or Saginaw United Methodist Church, 209 S. Bluebonnet, Saginaw, TX 76179.
Ralph was born in Montague, on September 24, 1924. He grew up there on a farm working along with his dad. He had four brothers and four sisters. When he got older, he went to Wichita Falls and worked there until he registered for the draft.
At age 18, he went into the army and was in the Medical Corp. He returned in 1946 in January, and on September 3, he and Cora Mae were married. He worked for a while on the farm as his dad was getting older and needed help.
In 1950, Ralph and family moved to Fort Worth and he went to work at General Dynamics. Ralph worked at GD for 11½ years then went to Bell Helicopter where he worked for 24 years. He was a member of Tarrant Masonic Lodge #942 A.F. & A.M. in Fort Worth for more than 60 years and was recognized by his lodge with a plaque for his fiftieth year. He joined the Saginaw Methodist Church in 1963 on Easter Sunday along with his whole family. He always took an active part, singing in the choir, volunteering to mow the lawn, and then becoming an usher and greeter.
Ralph was a wonderful son, husband, father, grandad, great-grandad, and buddy. He loved and served the Lord, and longed for the day to go home to be with Jesus and all the loved ones that passed before him. He is there rejoicing today.
Survivors: His wife of 70 years, Cora Mae Tompkins; two sons, Ralph Lawrence, Edward Doyle and wife, Cindy; daughter Terry Lee Flory and husband, David; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren—the thirteenth is on the way.
