Ralph Wheat

BEDFORD -- Ralph Conrad Wheat, 82, went to join his loving wife, Dorothy, and wonderful sister, Ann, in heaven Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012.

Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Michael Catholic Church on Harwood Road in Bedford. Interment: Ralph will be laid to rest with military honors 10:15 a.m. Friday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation: The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst, with rosary service at 7 p.m.

Ralph was born in Dallas on July 18, 1930, to Ira Nobel and Annie May Wheat. He was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps and served his country for four years. He retired from Master Chemical Corp. after many years as a successful salesman and was an active member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Bedford. Ralph married the love of his life, Dorothy Marie Wheat, on Nov. 9, 1978, and they shared 34 extraordinary years together. While Ralph enjoyed numerous activities, including gardening, playing bridge and fishing, his greatest passion was cooking. He was a self-taught genius in the kitchen and everyone who knew him was blessed by his culinary accomplishments. Ralph enjoyed reading aloud to Dorothy and they shared many evenings reading poetry and novels together. They loved to entertain and spend time with friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ann Baird; and his wife, Dorothy.

Survivors: Children, Dixi Talke and husband, Ray Talke, and Marti Wheat; and Dorothy's family, her sister, Esther Everitt; daughter, Mary Newman and her husband, Sterling; son-in-law, Edwin Morey; grandchildren, Melissa Andres, Monica Tharpe, Denise Newman, Dana Quick, Jay Newman, Chelle Scott, Meghan Cave, Meredith Morey and Ethan Morey; her nine great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.