Ralph Flavio Gonzales

He was born on May 12, 1917 in San Antonio. Ralph enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an armorer during World War II from January 1942 to October 1945, with service in the Southwest Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and six Overseas Service Bars.

Ralph enrolled at Texas A&M in the fall of 1949 on the G.I. Bill and graduated in 1953 with a B.B.A. degree in Marketing.

In 1956, he began a successful career as a civil service employee with the U.S. Air Force initially at Lackland AFB and later at Kelly AFB.

Ralph progressed as a Government Procurement specialist from Contract Negotiator, to Contracting Officer, to Termination Contracting Officer, to Auditor of Contracts.

He retired in 1987. Since then, Ralph was a volunteer for his church, First Baptist Church of San Antonio, as a Deacon, member of the Clothing Closet team, door greeter on Tuesdays at the 4th Street Caf, and telephone prayer partner during the Sunday morning televised service. He was honored as the church's Volunteer of the Year in 2001.

Ralph was a member of the Nat M. Washer Masonic Lodge No. 1270 A.F. & A.M., San Antonio, San Antonio A&M Club, and Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation. Additionally, he was a monthly contributor to Baptist University of the Americas, San Antonio Youth for Christ, Campus Crusade for Christ, Wycliffe Association, Texas Arms of Love, the San Antonio Texas A&M Wives and Graduates Club and the Texas A&M Hispanic Network.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Jesusa Maria Gonzales; brother, Philip Gonzales and sister, Beatrice Hernandez.

He is survived by his very devoted wife of 64 years, Rachel; faithful son, Robert; dear sister, Herlinda Esquivel; five brothers-in-law, seven sisters-in-law, twelve nieces, twenty-two nephews and two cousins.

Ralph was a very kind hearted, generous, Christian gentleman who loved his Lord and enjoyed serving the honoring Him through others.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Porter Loring.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

MONDAY

AUGUST 8, 2010

8:45 A.M.

FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

MEMORIAL SERVICE

TO FOLLOW

10:00 A.M.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SANCTUARY

515 MCCULLOUGH AVE

Rev. T. Don Guthrie officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either First Baptist Church, ATTN: Television Ministry, 515 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215 or the Baptist University of the Americas, 8019 S. Pan Am Expressway, San Antonio, TX 78224.