Obit of Ralph Wayman Billings, Sr. (b452) - Rogers Mills County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Wanda Purcell 30 Jul 2002 ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ====================================================================== Ralph Wayman Billings, Sr. was born on April 16, 1924 at Guthrie, Oklahoma to Earl Roosevelt and Ethel White Billings. He passed from this life on Tuesday, December 29, 1998 at the Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mr. Billings had reached the age of 74 years at the time of his death. Ralph spent his early years at Guthrie where he attended school through the 9th grade. When he was seventeen he enlisted in the United States Army and served in World War II. Ralph saw military action at normandy, Ardennes Rhineland, Northern France and in Italy. After the war he remained in the service and served in the Korean War. At the time of his honorable discharge in the spring of 1958 Ralph had reached the rank of Staff Sargeant and had received five Bronze Service Star, the EAME ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal. On December 7, 1960 Ralph was united in marriage to Dorothy Lorenda Martin in Nevada. To this union there were three children born, Vicki, Loria Ann and Ralph, Jr. Ralph had done farm work before entering the service and did some ranching after he and Dorothy were married. He later became employed as a heaavy equipment operator for a rock quarry. In his leisure time Ralph enjoyed fishing, and loved being outdoors enjoying nature. He was also a John Wayne fan, enjoying his many movies. Most of all Ralph loved his family. His children and grandchildren were very dear to him and many hours of fun were spent together. At a very early age, Ralph was baptized and later became a member of the Baptist Church. For the last number of years he has attended the Church of Christ. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization. Ralph was very proud of his military service to his country. Mr. Billings was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Earl Jr. and William (Bill) Billings, one grandson, James (Jimbo) Ray, one granddaughter, Charlena Ray, his step-mother Anna Rhe Johnson and two aunts, Jennie Mae Terry and Helen Edens, and several other aunts and uncles. Those surviving to cherish his memory include his beloved wife, Dorothy of the home in Leedey, Oklahoma; four daughters, Vicki Billings of Leedey, Lori Ann Billings, Chaarlotte of Italy and Lila Woodring of Woodward, four sons, Ralph Billings, Jr. of St. Joseph, Missouri, Mitch Ray of Leedey, Marty Ray of St. Joseph, Missouri and Charlie Ray of Butler, Oklahoma; one sister, Myra Gonsalez of Round Lake Beach, Illinois; twenty grandchildren; three great grandchildren; one aunt, one uncle; several nieces and nephews and other relatives and many friends. Services were Monday, January 4, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Christ in Leedey, Oklahoma. Durward Weatherford, Erick, Oklahoma and Rev. Wayne Chennault, Guthrie, Oklahoma officiated. Interment was in the Lawrie Cemetery at Guthrie, Oklahoma at 3:00 p.m. Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, Ok 7-Jan-1999