We are men who lead, serve, protect and defend, whether we are giving out Coats for Kids, donating wheelchairs, lending a helping hand in disaster relief efforts, supporting local pregnancy centers or providing top-quality financial products.
Devoted husband, father, Catholic and patriot, Council 8157 member Ralph Harkenrider passed away on Feb. 4 at the age of 88. He is survived by Maxine, his wife of more than 63 years (whom he met in the first grade), their six daughters (Joan Harkenrider, og Irving, Monica Radoszewski of Dallas, Donna Bulls of Carlisle, Pa., .Laura Jones of Wytheville, Va.Lisa Brochu of Barrington, Ill., and Amy Manning of Nokesville Va.). 15 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Ralph was a Chicago native and graduated from the Catholic all-buys Mt. Carmel High School and made sure that all their daughters also received a Catholic education. He earned a law degree from DePaul University in Chicago. Ralph served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, in the Air Force during the Korean War and later in the Air Force Reserve. In combining his legal training and military experience, he became a JAG advocate. Ralph and Maxine were married in Chicago in January 1950 when he was in the service. He joined the Knights in January 1949 and took his major degree in May 1950 and entered the Fourth Degree in 1951. He served as a lawyer in Chicago before spending most of his career representing pilots’ unions. He was a founding administrator of the Airline Pilots Association of American Airlines. The Hatkenriders came to Texas from New York in 1970 when he was transferred here, and were among Holy Spirit’s founding families in 1974. Maxine worked for International Harvester in Chicago. In Texas, she operated a hot dog-deli stand in downtown Ft. worth. The Harkenriders were beloved by many in the parish. Though Ralph was slowed in recent years, he still attended KC meetings on occasion- and usually his presence known (no fence-straddler, Ralph). He was a member of the American Legion and once led the local Memorial Day parade. He loved music, singing (a member of both the Holy Spirit choir and the Dallas Frohsinn Singing Society) and telling Jokes. Little known fact: Ralph once owned a pecan farm in Texas. His other hobbies included polka, traveling, gardening, tinkering with cars, beer tasting and root beer brewing. We’re better Knights, parishioners, and people for knowing Ralph Harkenrider.
