Memorials › Ralph Randle Darter
Ralph Randle Darter
22 Apr 1933 – Jul 2011
| Birth | 22 Apr 1933 |
| Death | Jul 2011 |
| Cemetery | Resthaven Memorial Gardens Duncan , Stephens County , Oklahoma , USA |
| Added by | Oklahoma Grave Walkers on 05 Jul 2011 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72892358 |
Bio
Ralph was born on April 22, 1933 in Ardmore, OK to A. C. and Matilda Darter. His family moved to Duncan when he was 5. He went to Lee Grade School and then onto graduate from Duncan High School in 1951. He went to work in the oil field for Morris Hamilton Drilling Company in Houston, Texas from 1951 to 1953. He then went into the Army on April 14, 1953 and served in the Korean War in the 20th Trans. Tank Company. He was discharged on April 13, 1955 to complete his military service in the Army Reserve for six more years. When Ralph returned from overseas, he wanted to farm, a love passed down to him by his father. He bought a farm outside Duncan and worked more than seven years at Sunray Oil Company and Refinery to pay for it. While employed there, he played on their basketball and baseball teams for several years. He met the love of his life, Jo Ann Cox, in 1956. They were soon married on May 26, 1956 in Wichita Falls, Texas and settled in Duncan for the rest of their time together. Ralph worked for Sunray more than seven years. After his father died, he took on the additional responsibilities of his dad's farm. He took a test at the bank to see if he was adept at computers and he scored so high on the test, the Vice-President at the bank offered him a job as a nighttime computer operator in 1967. He was later promoted to the agriculture loan officer and then to Vice-President of Security National Bank of agriculture loans. He continued to work after the bank changed to AmQuest and then retired in March 1996. After retirement, Ralph and Jo Ann traveled all over the U.S. going to car swap meets. They were able to travel for three years until Ralph's Parkinson's disease made it hard to travel. They settled into life on the farm and lived east of Duncan until moving to town in June 2008. Ralph moved to the VA Center in late August 2009 where all of the staff came to love him like family. The staff there was very loving and kind to Ralph and loved to hear all of his "taking care of the cows" stories. He passed away on July 4, 2011 with Jo Ann and his children with him. He will be missed by everybody whoever met him as a true gentleman and a good Christian man, Ralph spent his extra time volunteering for church activities and participating in agriculture related functions. A deacon of 20 years and a Sunday School teacher, he didn't put anything before church. He was a Member of Stephens County Fair Board, Stephens County Agriculture Committee, Rural Development Advisory Council, OSU District Program Planning Advisory Council, and chairman of the Stephens County Bonus Auction Committee at the Livestock Show. He was an organizer and past chairman of the Rural Water District #5 and served over ten years on the board. He was a past board member of the OBA Agriculture Committee. In addition, he was a honorary FFA chapter farmer for every chapter in Stephens County and a honorary Stephens County 4-H member. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, brother A. C. Darter, and sisters Novaleen Grooms and Wanda Brown. He is survived by his wife of the home, Jo Ann, son Steve Darter and wife Jackie of Velma, daughters Lisa Presgrove and husband Terry of Duncan, OK, and Jo Renae Johnson and husband Rick of Duncan, OK. His grandchildren are Kyle Kelly of Duncan; Sara Darter Zellner of Duncan; Cristina Johnson Foster and husband Jason of Duncan; Ashley Kelly Hughes and husband Nick of Edmond; Rachael Darter Phillippi and husband Leon of Glenpool, OK; DeDe Johnson Parks and husband Justin of Duncan; and John Darter of Velma. Great-grandchildren are Abby Kelly; Zoey Zellner; Blayden, Kaylee, and Allie Foster; Rhett, Bree, and Chase Hughes; Heath Phillippi; and Emaleigh and Raylen Parks.
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