Roll Call Tribute
Ralph Lunsford Sr. '48 June 7, 2021 11:04 AM updated: June 7, 2021 11:27 AM
Ralph Vernon Lunsford, Sr.
October 19, 1927 - May 28, 2021
Ralph V. Lunsford, Sr., 93, of Beaumont, passed away Friday, May 28, 2021. He was born October 19, 1927, in Temple, to Inez Signa (Horner) and Ralph Martin Lunsford. Both parents preceded him in death.
On September 17, 1949, Ralph married Mary Ann “Sandy” Santleben. Following 51 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on February 2, 2001. Their eldest son, Ralph “Vernon” Lunsford, Jr., passed away on January 20, 2003. Ralph married Louise (Sherrill) Campbell on January 13, 2004. After 12 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on January 20, 2016.
Survivors include his son, Robert “Bob” Lunsford and wife, Laura of Kingwood; stepdaughters, Cheryl Fels and husband Don of Pearland; Carol Green and husband Dick of Boerne; grandchildren, Holly Denise Butler and husband, Jens of Fairfield, IA; Ellen Lynn Holaway of Nacogdoches; Rose Lee McCarty of Rusk; Julie Anne Bunn of Atascocita; Jeffrey Kent Overstreet of Austin; great-grandchildren, Charles Butler; Michael, Catherine, and Rebecca Holaway; Summer, Rita, and Dan Martinez; Kora (Powers) Hattenbach; Evie Bunn; two great-great grandchildren; brother, Jack Lunsford and his wife, Jan, of Bryan; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ralph graduated in 1944 from Austin High School in Houston, and in 1948 from Texas A&M University where he served in the Corps of Cadets, and received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. During the Korean War, he served as a cartographer with the US Air Force stationed in St. Louis, MO, and was honorably discharged with a rank of 1st Lieutenant.
He enjoyed a long and interesting career as a Civil Engineer, Surveyor and Pipeliner with Gulf Oil Pipeline Company. Amongst his many engineering projects was Colonial Pipeline which extends from the Northeastern U.S. to Texas, as well as the Trans Andean Pipeline which extends from the Amazon Basin over the Andes Mountains to the southern coast of Colombia. While working in Colombia, Ralph acted as consultant for a parallel pipeline in Equador. He additionally managed pipeline operations in Venezuela.
Ralph enjoyed many hobbies, including travel to many locations within the U.S. and around the world. Activities included A&M football and other sports, hunting, fishing, golf, dancing, and avid reading. A loving husband and father, he enjoyed spending time with his family, and walking through the woods at the old Lunsford farmstead in East Texas.
The family would like to extend a special “thank you” to Christus Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth Hospital, as well as Harbor Hospice House, both in Beaumont. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church or Harbor Hospice House.
A gathering of Mr. Lunsford’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 2021, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1350 N. 23rd Street, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 4, 2021, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. His interment will follow at 2:30 p.m., at Stryker Cemetery, Purvis Boulevard, Corrigan.
Honorary pallbearers include David Lunsford, Randy Lunsford, Jim Lunsford, and Brian Browning.
©BROUSSARD'S MORTUARY 2017-2020
October 19, 1927 - May 28, 2021
Ralph V. Lunsford, Sr., 93, of Beaumont, passed away Friday, May 28, 2021. He was born October 19, 1927, in Temple, to Inez Signa (Horner) and Ralph Martin Lunsford. Both parents preceded him in death.
On September 17, 1949, Ralph married Mary Ann “Sandy” Santleben. Following 51 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on February 2, 2001. Their eldest son, Ralph “Vernon” Lunsford, Jr., passed away on January 20, 2003. Ralph married Louise (Sherrill) Campbell on January 13, 2004. After 12 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on January 20, 2016.
Survivors include his son, Robert “Bob” Lunsford and wife, Laura of Kingwood; stepdaughters, Cheryl Fels and husband Don of Pearland; Carol Green and husband Dick of Boerne; grandchildren, Holly Denise Butler and husband, Jens of Fairfield, IA; Ellen Lynn Holaway of Nacogdoches; Rose Lee McCarty of Rusk; Julie Anne Bunn of Atascocita; Jeffrey Kent Overstreet of Austin; great-grandchildren, Charles Butler; Michael, Catherine, and Rebecca Holaway; Summer, Rita, and Dan Martinez; Kora (Powers) Hattenbach; Evie Bunn; two great-great grandchildren; brother, Jack Lunsford and his wife, Jan, of Bryan; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ralph graduated in 1944 from Austin High School in Houston, and in 1948 from Texas A&M University where he served in the Corps of Cadets, and received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. During the Korean War, he served as a cartographer with the US Air Force stationed in St. Louis, MO, and was honorably discharged with a rank of 1st Lieutenant.
He enjoyed a long and interesting career as a Civil Engineer, Surveyor and Pipeliner with Gulf Oil Pipeline Company. Amongst his many engineering projects was Colonial Pipeline which extends from the Northeastern U.S. to Texas, as well as the Trans Andean Pipeline which extends from the Amazon Basin over the Andes Mountains to the southern coast of Colombia. While working in Colombia, Ralph acted as consultant for a parallel pipeline in Equador. He additionally managed pipeline operations in Venezuela.
Ralph enjoyed many hobbies, including travel to many locations within the U.S. and around the world. Activities included A&M football and other sports, hunting, fishing, golf, dancing, and avid reading. A loving husband and father, he enjoyed spending time with his family, and walking through the woods at the old Lunsford farmstead in East Texas.
The family would like to extend a special “thank you” to Christus Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth Hospital, as well as Harbor Hospice House, both in Beaumont. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church or Harbor Hospice House.
A gathering of Mr. Lunsford’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 2021, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1350 N. 23rd Street, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 4, 2021, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. His interment will follow at 2:30 p.m., at Stryker Cemetery, Purvis Boulevard, Corrigan.
Honorary pallbearers include David Lunsford, Randy Lunsford, Jim Lunsford, and Brian Browning.
©BROUSSARD'S MORTUARY 2017-2020
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