Obituary

HEREFORD - Ralph Packard, 86, died Sunday, July 6, 2008, in Amarillo.

Celebration of life services will be at 10 a.m. today in Central Church of Christ with John Henley and Alton Hollingsworth officiating. Military honors will be by the Hereford High School JROTC Unit. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. in Plainview Cemetery in Plainview by Parkside Chapel Funeral Home.

Mr. Packard was born Feb. 19, 1922, in Springlake, the son of Ralph and Leona Packard. Mr. Packard joined the U.S. Army in 1942, where he was assigned to the Army Air Corps and operated cranes that transported bombs to be loaded onto the bombers. Ralph became an avid motorcyclist when he obtained his first motorcycle in Belgium.
Ralph married Jane Clark on Nov. 1, 1947, in Springlake. Ralph continued his motorcycle enthusiasm and traveled many miles with Jane. He was also a member of the Hereford Rock & Gem Club.

Survivors include his wife, Jane; three daughters, Charlotte Wimberley and Cherri Kerr and husband Gordon, all of Amarillo, and Cecilia Watson and husband Terry of Longview; four grandsons, Allen Baum, Royce Wimberley, Ziad Hammad and Sammy Hammad; a granddaughter, Charla Hayes; three great-grandsons; three great-granddaughters; a great-great-granddaughter; and a special sister-in-law, Louise Packard of Hereford.

The family suggests memorials be to Hereford Senior Citizens, 426 Ranger St., Hereford, TX 79045; Thomas E. Creek Veterans Medical Center Auxiliary, 6010 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106, or a favorite charity.

Amarillo Globe-News, July 9, 2008