Mi Padre

Ralph Roy Standlee, Jr. passed away on April 26, 2015 at Brookdale Lake Arlington Assisted Living in Lake Arlington, Texas.  His passing was attended by his family, with the assistance of Hospice Nurses with Heart to Heart of Ft. Worth.  

He was born on September 28, 1933 in Agua Dulce, Texas, growing up in the area farming with his father.  He was fluent in both English and Spanish.  He joined the Army, and made a career of the military, retiring with the rank of E6 Staff Sargent at his final duty base in El Paso, Texas. He served in several over-seas tours, including Korea, France, Lebanon, Germany and Vietnam, and was recognized with several Medals of Commendation for his service, as well as receiving a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in Vietnam.  After his military service, he began a second career as a long-haul professional driver, criss-crossing the United States, delivering hospital supplies. He was recognized several times with 1 Million Safe Driving Miles awards.  He was married on February 11, 1956 to Nora Jean Clay. They would raise a family of four daughters together.  Ralph had a life-long passion for Amateur "Ham" Radio. His call sign was WA5VEE.  He was a member of the Sun City Amateur Radio Club, and frequently participated in emergency preparedness drills.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, several half brothers and sisters, his only grandson, Roy Dean Irvin Lewis in 1998, his oldest daughter, Geri Sue Mills in 2006, and his wife of 53 years, Nora Jean Standlee, in 2009.  He is survived by his remaining three daughters:  Janet Rogers of Mansfield, Texas, her husband Andy Rogers, and their two children Katy Rogers and Emily Rogers; Jennefer Coffey of Dunlap, Illinois, her husband Jim Coffey, and their two daughters, Erica Larkin, with her husband Sean Larkin, and Sarah Coffey;  and Carolyn Standlee-Hanson of St. Charles, Minnesota, and her husband Richard Hanson.  His oldest grand-daughter, Christy June Cordero, daughter of Geri Sue Mills, lives in El Paso with her husband Albert.  Their six children made Ralph a great-grandfather.  He is also survived by his sister, Bertha Eckert and her husband George Eckert of Fredricksburg, Texas.

The daughters will have a private memorial at a future date, where it is planned to return his ashes to South Texas, where his heart longed to return his whole life.  Adios Señor Standlee!  WA5VEE has signed off the air for the final time.