Ralph Metcalf

Services for Ralph Metcalf, 88, of Teaselville, Texas, will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at 2:00 PM at County Line Baptist Church with Rev.’s Edwin Lewis and Tom Pesnell officiating. Ralph, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend passed from this life on May 18, 2010, at his home surrounded by family and loved ones. Burial will follow at Flint Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. He was born April 5, 1922, in Winona, Texas to Jack and Ada Lee Metcalf. Ralph attended school in Winona and Eureka. He was a decorated World War II Army veteran of 3 years; 27 months of which were in the Middle East with the Persian Gulf Command. His memoirs are illustrated with photographs he took and developed during that era. Ralph had a number of wonderful accomplishments in the farming community. He was a member and Deacon at County Line Baptist Church. He was a member of the Agriculture Soil and Water Conservation for 27 years. He earned numerous awards and ribbons at Smith County Hay shows each year. Early in his life, he was a worker with the Civilian Conservation Corps helping establish Lake Tyler and Possum Kingdom Lake. Ralph was a hard working dairy farmer for 20 years, ultimately turning from dairy to beef cattle ranching for the past 45 years. Along with farming and ranching you would always find a large vegetable garden in the same spot on his land where he unselfishly shared delicious produce with family, neighbors and friends for the past 63 years. He was an avid quail hunter and shared many hours of hunting with family and friends. Family was the center of Ralph’s life. His kind intelligence and patience was inspiring to the lives of the thousands of people he touched. He was an “Uncle” to friends and was instrumental in bringing many, many “adopted” children into adulthood with all the right values. Ralph was a model to everyone from newborns to the elderly. His farm and home were always open to visitors. City kids learned the rewards earned from hard work, a job well done, and stick to it-ness. Throughout the life of his family you would many times see extra cars in the driveway as people stayed over for the weekend. And when children were involved…Well, on the dairy agenda was always a child’s life long experience of “hand milking” a cow, evolving later to a “hay ride” to feed and check on the beef cattle. City folk loved to visit the Metcalf’s! Plus they received a side benefit of great veggies and being mentored by the best. Ralph was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Lola Neeley; grandson, Chad Hill of Flint; brothers, Pete Metcalf of Tyler and Wayne Metcalf of Bullard and; and sisters, Gussie McClenny of Tyler and Helen Neeley of Flint. He is survived by his loving family including his son, Gaylon of Teaselville; daughter’s, Sherry Lavada Canfield and husband Bill of Teaselville, Brenda Hill and husband James of Flint; brother, Billy Metcalf of Flint; sister, Geraldine Hall of Tyler; grandchildren, Chris Hill and wife Amber and Brynnan and Blaire of Tomball; and a number of nieces and nephews . There is something missing today in the hearts of those who called Ralph, uncle, dad, grandpa and friend. He will be missed by the many whose lives were incredibly lucky enough to be touched by this good man. But the memories he created will live on through each of us. God give rest to you at your new home. Visitation is scheduled for Friday, May 21, 2010 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, Texas 75703. Mr. Metcalf will lie in state on Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM at his home at 13351 CR 344 West, Bullard, Texas 75757. Memorials in honor of Ralph Metcalf may be made to Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701. The family would like to offer a special thank you to Joyce Story and Deborah Pinke. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Ralph Metcalf

April 5, 1922 - May 18, 2010