Colonel Ralph William Furtner

Colonel Ralph W. Furtner, U.S. Air Force Retired, of Georgetown, Texas passed away peacefully on October 11, 2024. Ralph was born August 17, 1933, in Washington, D. C. to the late Charles A. and Mary A. (Barghausen) Furtner. After graduating from St. Paul’s Academy, Ralph received his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Public Administration degrees from George Washington University where he met the love of his life, Mary Louise Feeney. Ralph and Mary Louise were married 63 years at the time of her passing in 2021.

Ralph’s 22 year military career began in 1955. As a member of the Strategic Air Command, Ralph was awarded multiple decorations for combat missions flown in Vietnam in 1966-1967, including four Air Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He joined the faculty of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, as an Air Force Research Associate from 1974 to 1976. After his retirement from military active duty in 1977, Ralph served as Military Staff Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1991, where he directed the USAF Policy Planning Studies Program and led multiple research projects concerning military organization, planning and programming. Additionally, Ralph served on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, from 1981 to 1992.

Beyond his military career, Ralph’s beloved family and his lifelong faith in the Catholic church formed the cornerstones of his life. While generally reserved and humble, Ralph loved the opportunity to talk about his family and enthusiastically shared family stories. It was obvious that “family” was a source of much pride and joy which served to sustain him through the devastating loss of Mary Louise and his own debilitating health over the last three years. Even in those tough times, Ralph’s response to how he was doing was “Never better” or “I’m at the top of my game”. That positive outlook, his kindness, integrity, generosity and love of family are his legacy, forever impacting the lives of those fortunate enough to have known him.

With a successful career and a loving family, Ralph’s life was indeed full, but one other achievement should not be overlooked. Even though he spent many years in the Air Force, Ralph also loved the water and in his spare time became an avid sailor, taking the family on cruises down the Potomac River and beach vacations in Nags Head, North Carolina. Just recently, Ralph enjoyed “coaching” his sister-in-law Alice in her training for the 2023 and 2024 Marine Corp Marathons. Further proof, Ralph lived his life to the fullest.

Ralph will be missed by his children Julia Akin (Harry), CDR Thomas Furtner, USNR, Ret. (Jo Ellen), and Suzanne Broccolo (widow of Fred); grandchildren Christopher Broccolo (Kelsey), LCDR Ryan Furtner, USN (Monica), Lauren Furtner (Eamon), Patrick Broccolo, and Evan Furtner; great granddaughters Everleigh Broccolo and Lenox Broccolo; brothers Guy Furtner (Alice) and Alvin Furtner (Nancy).

Ralph was predeceased by his wife Mary Louise, his son Eric, and his siblings Charles Furtner, Margaret Clementson, Thomas Furtner, and James Furtner.

A funeral mass in Ralph’s honor will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 4, 2024, at St. Helen’s Catholic Church, Georgetown, followed by a graveside service with full military honors at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, Texas at 1:00 PM.

For those unable to attend, below is a link to both the Memorial Mass and the Service at Killeen

https://vimeo.com/event/4689565 Memorial Mass

https://vimeo.com/event/4689590 Military Honors

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be considered in Ralph’s memory to the Gary Sinise Foundation which supports wounded veterans and first responders (donate.garysinisefoundation.org).