Ralph Lee Milner

Ralph Lee Milner, 97, of Crowley, Texas, died Nov. 20, 2022, at Medical City Arlington surrounded by family and friends, and with the music he loved to play filling the room.

Seldom the loudest voice in the room. Alright, never the loudest voice in the room. But for nearly a century that voice drew laughter, forged life-long friendships, welcomed any and all into his circle and spoke far greater volumes about the man behind it.

His was a life spent proving that a man of few words can be a storyteller with few peers. A coconut-throwing Santa Claus. A day at the river with Pretty Boy Floyd. Learning to drive in a one-horsepower car. Landing a plane with nothing but the lights of his own imagination guiding him. How a family friend with beautiful red hair stole his heart without him even realizing it.

The full story behind all the stories starts like this. He was born July 8, 1925, in Yonkers, Oklahoma, the son of Thomas Edwin and Ethel Loraine Milner. He was the third of ten children. On December 30, 1948, he married Alta Marie Smith, daughter of Pat and Nina Smith of Kansas, Oklahoma. They were married in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and enjoyed 66 years together.

A strong heart and a gentle soul. Sometimes stubborn, always loyal. From his biggest love, Alta Marie, to his passion for playing music to the cowboy boots he would be guaranteed to be wearing whenever and wherever you saw him, you knew exactly where he stood.

When he found a thing he loved, it was a love for life.

Mr. Milner attended school in Oklahoma, including Black School, Locust Grove, Smith Chapel, Iron Post, and Haley in Missouri.

He served in the U.S. Army Infantry, Army of Occupation in 1946-1947 in Korea. While serving, he received a World War II Victory Medal and an Army of Occupation Medal /Japan. After being discharged, the G.I. Bill provided him the opportunity to study carpentry and furniture building. He then worked building cabinets for about 10 years. While he continued working, he attended night classes to earn his certification in television and radio repair. He and his wife operated Milner TV Sales and Service for 28 years in Crowley. In 1974 Milner Cattle Company began with 98 Beefalo. Mr. Milner continued to raise cattle until 2019.

It was during his time in the service that one of those life-long loves began to take flight. In basic training he considered signing up to learn to fly, but he couldn’t convince any of his friends to join him. Always loyal, he stuck with his newfound friends.

And, yes, sometimes stubborn. His itch to fly didn’t fade, and, in 1975, Mr. Milner finally accomplished his dream of obtaining his private pilot’s license. During the next 28 years, he and his wife and co-pilot flew with family and friends in his Cessna and Piper planes.

Mr. Milner was an active life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6872. He played the fiddle and mandolin with the V.F.W. band, The Misfits. The band, consisting of all volunteers, entertained at several area nursing homes for over 35 years.

Mr. Milner got his start with the fiddle, teaching himself to play by ear as a teenager. In addition to fiddle and mandolin, he also played the guitar and the keyboard through the years often making his own recordings by dubbing in the individual instruments to practice.

After a stroke in 2019, he briefly lost use of his left side. He thought he would never play music again. Three months later, he was playing for family and friends at he and his sisters’ big birthday party. He proved even himself wrong. Yes, sometimes stubborn. Yet, always loyal to the things he loved most about life — to the end.

Survivors
He is survived by his daughter, Alta Lee Futch and husband, Dana, of Crowley, Texas; daughter, Faye McCoy and husband, John, of Arlington, Texas; daughter, Naomi Oxhandler and husband, Neil, of Spring, Texas; granddaughter, Joanna Lafayette and husband, Ray of Las Vegas, Nevada; grandson, Scott McCoy of Saginaw, Texas; grandson, Cale Oxhandler and wife, Maranda, of Tomball, Texas; grandson, Cory Oxhandler and wife, Holly, of Waco, Texas ; grandson, Cody Oxhandler and wife, Brittany, of Spring, Texas; great-grandsons, Kade, Owen, Ryan and Oliver Oxhandler; great-granddaughters Callie and Avery Oxhandler; sister, Imogene Wood, of Kansas, Oklahoma; and sister, Virginia Hulshouser, of Lancaster, Texas. He is also survived by numerous extended family members and friends.

Mr. Milner was preceded in death by his wife, Alta Marie; father, Thomas Edwin Milner; mother, Ethel Loraine Milner; brothers Thomas Edwin (Junior), Herbert, Argyle, Jim, Billy and Frank; and sister Helen.
Visitation will be held 4-6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 27, at Lucas & Blessing Funeral Home. Funeral service will be officiated by Mel Pugh at 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 28. Following the service, burial will be at Alvarado Glenwood Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Joanna Lafayette, Scott McCoy, Cale Oxhandler, Cory Oxhandler, Cody Oxhandler, Dale Milner, James Milner.