Ralph Walton

Ralph Walton Family History
Ralph Howell Walton was born in Grapeland, Texas April 4, 1918 to Gilbert Arthur and Sallie Mae Kent Walton. He graduated from Grapeland High School in 1936 and then served in the U.S. Navy prior to and during World War II. In 1942 Ralph married Dora Maurice Long, daughter of Neil Maurice and Owena (Johnston) Long. Ralph’s war years were spent aboard the Battleship U.S.S. Washington. Convoy duty between Iceland, England and Murmansk, Russia; from August 1942 to war’s end in the South Pacific from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. Returning to Grapeland after the war, he was in the auto parts business until he was appointed Postmaster in 1968. He served as Postmaster until his retirement in August 1984. Ralph is an active member of the First Baptist Church, serving as church treasurer and deacon. Maurice is also a graduate of Grapeland High School (1938) and attended Sam Houston State Teachers College for two years and Metropolitan Business College in Dallas before manages to Ralph. She has been active in church, school activities, Grapeland Garden Club and Eastern Star. Ralph and Maurice are the parents of four children. The first was Elisabeth Zoe, born May 3, 1946. She is a 1964 graduate of Grapeland High School. Zoe is married to Fred Allen Williams, also of Grapeland. Fred is a graduate of Texas A&M School of Veterinarian Medicine. After graduation, he served in the army as captain for two years and now he and Zoe own Midway Animal Clinic in Farmers Branch. Zoe works with Fred in this business. They have two children: Zoe Ellen, a senior at Baylor University and Fred, Jr., a senior at First Baptist Academy. Zoe is active in her church and Fred serves as a deacon of First Baptist Church, Dallas. Ralph Howell, Jr. was born November 2, 1947. He is a 1966 graduate of Grapeland High School and graduated from Baylor University and the Baylor School of Law in 1972. He is married to the former Patsy Kitcher, also a Grapeland native and Baylor graduate. They are the parents of two daughters, Lauren Allison and Elisabeth Ashley. After having practiced law for a number of years in Granbury, Texas, Ralph became Judge of the 355th Judicial District of Hood County on January 1, 1985. He and his family reside in Granbury. They are active Methodists. Maurice Gilbert was born March 10. 1951. He is a 1969 graduate of Grapeland High School and a 1975 graduate of Baylor University and the Baylor School of Law. He is married to the former Carol Hastings of Lawton, Oklahoma and also a Baylor graduate. They are the parents of four sons, Austin Shannon, Hastings Howell and twins, Griffin Lee and Graham Paul. Maurice is currently engaged in the practice of law in Granbury, Texas where he and his family reside. Maurice is a deacon at Acton Baptist Church and Carol is a member of the choir. Paul Lee was born May 30, 1955. He is a 1973 graduate of Grapeland High School and a 1978 graduate of Baylor University with a B.B.A. and M.B.A. He is married to Sue Ellen Barnes of Richardson, Texas. She is also a graduate of Baylor University. Paul is currently employed as controller by Metallic Products Corp. of Houston. Sue Ellen is employed by Mason Pearsall Co. as administrative assistant. They reside in Houston and attend First Baptist Church.