Ralph A. DeGilio

Ralph A. DeGilio
January 2, 1917 - June 1, 2012

Funeral services for Ralph A. DeGilio, 95, of Henderson, will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 4, 2012 at Crawford - A. Crim Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Bill Tisdale officiating. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park under the direction of Crawford - A. Crim Funeral Home of Henderson.

Visitation will be Monday, June 4, one hour before the service.

Ralph was born on January 2, 1917 in North Bergen, New Jersey and went to be with the Lord on June 1, 2012.

He was converted at Southside Baptist Church in Henderson on a Thursday evening in August and baptized on Sunday. He was appointed choir director for the church. He was a men's Sunday School teacher and training union director. He was the president of the brotherhood association. At that time he was privileged to speak in many churches in the association.

Then he and his family moved their fellowship to First Baptist Church in the mid 50's. His family joined the choir under the direction of Mrs. Claudia Holder. He became a teacher of men's Sunday school classes for 46 years. His teaching ended after having a stroke.

"Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ who gave me all these opportunities through the years."

He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth and infant grandson, Arthur Calvin Johnston, Jr. His parents, Andrew and Catherine DeGilio of New York, his brother Frank of New York, his brother Anthony of New York, his sister Mary of New Jersey. There were five brothers in the military during WWII at the same time: Joseph - US Army medic; Julius - US Infantry Pacific Islands; Michael - US Army Infantry, North Africa, Anzio, Italy, and France; Andrew, Jr. - US Navy Pacific; and Ralph - USAF. Those four brothers who served also preceded him in death.

Surviving are: daughter Dolores Johnston and her husband Art of Rusk; granddaughter Rhonda and her husband Ron of Nacogdoches; grandson Andy and his wife Kathy of Rusk; great-grandchildren Katie Barton and Kacy Mooneyham, Kristina Bishop and her husband Clay, John Weaver and his wife Erin; great-great-grandchildren Jordan, Jayanna, Jaycee, and Jaylee Bishop, and Landon, Lillee, and Lanee Weaver and Garrett Barton; sister, Eleanor Heirro of California; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Andy Johnston, Dalton Jones, Richard Smith, Al Whitehead, Dallas Woods and Jim Mayo.

Condolences may be made online at www.crawfordacrim.com.