Ralph James Finklea

Ralph James Finklea, Jr. Ralph James Finklea, Jr., 81, son of Ralph Finklea and Nellie McShan Finklea died of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome on July 20, 2005, in Austin, Texas. He was born on September 12, 1923 in West Columbia, Texas, he attended school in many different towns in Texas because his father was an oilfield worker who became superintendent of the Humble (later Exxon) camp in Raymondville, Texas. He graduated from high school in Alice where he became an Eagle Scout and found a lifelong friend in Felix Staffel from Lebanon, Missouri. Ralph attended A&M University one semester but transferred to the University of Texas because there were no girls. He joined Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) in order to further his education. He was assigned to East Texas State Teacher College in Commerce, Texas, where he met his future wife Anne Butler. After about a year and a half the army pulled its students out of college and sent Ralph’s group to the Infantry where they received basic training at Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas. He served as first scout in the 3rd Battalion 395th Infantry Regiment, 99th Division which held the north shoulder during the Battle of the Buldge for which it received the Presidential Unit Citation. Returning from service in WWII, he married Anne Butler in Commerce, Texas, June 15, 1947. Going back to U.T. he joined the ROTC and became a 2nd Lt., while his wife taught third grade at the original Palm Elementary School on East 1st Street in Austin. When the Korean conflict started he joined the 169th T Amphibious Truck Company from Austin which unloaded supplies for radar installations in Greenland, Labradorer and Newfoundland in 1950-51. They lost only one “duck” in the choppy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. During his life Ralph wore many hats, a loving father to their two children Peter Dwight and April Lea, a school bus driver, an elementary school teacher, a school principal, Superintendent of Schools in Sonora, Texas, along with his wife a charter member of Church of the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Sonora, Texas, and a Presbytery representative to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S. in Huntington, West Virginia. He coached a sixth grade football team which won an all-city championship in Longview, Texas. A member of that team was Sewell Street, brother of James Street of U.T. fame. Ralph was president of the South Austin Exchange Club (service) a member and elder of Faith Presbyterian Church in Austin, and a Lifetime Member of the University of Texas EX Student Association. He earned his Masters degree from UT and spent his last years in the field of education serving as principal of Travis Heights Elementary School in Austin which became a Sixth Grade Center with eighteen sections. Here he formed many lasting friendships. His career helped many children. He was well-read, funny, and kind. He will be greatly missed. Survivors include Anne Finklea his loving wife of 58 years, beloved children Peter Finklea of Oakland, California and April Finklea Beckerley and husband John of Austin; brother, Lawrence Finklea and wife Jodie of Sonora, Texas; nephews, Bill Finklea of New York City and Larry Finklea of Sonora, Texas; and niece, Marsha Cardwell and husband James and their children, Margo Caldwell and McCurdy Cardwell of Austin. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Faith Presbyterian Church, 1314 E. Oltorf, Austin, Texas, 78704 or the American Heart Association. A memorial service will be held at Faith Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 5th at 10:00 a.m. followed by a remembrance reception. Family members will gather for a private burial at Forest Oaks. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com