Ralph Muns

Ralph Everett Muns, 99, of Odessa passed away at 6:40 PM, Sunday, March 21, 2010 at Windcrest Alzheimer Care Center in Abilene, Texas. He died peacefully and the cause of death was basically old age. He was blessed to have each of his five children visit him the weekend of his death. He was very active until he entered his 90s at which time he began to slow down.

Mr. Muns was born June 29, 1910 in Champaign County, Illinois, the son of Andrew Clarence and Mabel Lee Muns. His father, born before the Civil War, had witnessed Lincolns funeral train and was the grandson of a Revolutionary War veteran. Ralph was raised in Pesotum, Illinois. His favorite sport was baseball he played both 2nd base and shortstop. One of his most special experiences happened in 1927 when he and a friend stopped over in St. Louis, Missouri on their way to a summer job in Kansas. The New York Yankees were in town to play the St. Louis Browns. That evening we walked over to the Chase Hotel and there were several members of the Yankee team in the lobby. I brought up the subject of the possibility of getting Babe Ruth to sign a baseball for us. They thought it would be worth a try and we walked up to the counter and asked if we could have the room number of Babe Ruths room. She said sure and went over to the registration desk and looked it up and then gave it to us. We then proceeded to go up to his room and knocked on the door. Babe was in the room and came to the door, opened it and asked what we wanted. I told him, we were wondering if he would sign a baseball for us. He said sure kids where are the balls we told him we didnt have any balls and I guess that we assumed he had a supply in his room as we were from the country and the pictures we had often seen of him was his singing balls and handing them out to people. Babe told us to go get some balls and he would sign them for us. We went down to the gift shop in the hotel and bought three balls which we took back up to Babe and he signed them.

Following High School, Ralph attended the University of Illinois graduating with a BBA in Accounting. He was active in Delta Tau Delta. Following graduation in 1935, he traveled to New York City where he became an accountant and found the love of his life, Helen Virginia Stowe. He met Helen on a blind date to the Macys Day Parade. His brother, Red, coheres him to take Blanches sister out for Thanksgiving. He accepted begrudgingly and made it very clear that he would not spend one penny the outing would be on Red. Well, it was love at first site, and Ralph even suggested that they go to a special restaurant for a nice dinner, and he gladly picked up the tab. The two brothers married the two sisters in a double wedding, August 23, 1937 in the front yard of their home in Ft. Dodge, Iowa.

Ralph and Helen had two daughters, Nancy Helen and Susan Lee while in New York City, and after moving to Pittsburgh, three sons, Roger Edward, Bruce Allen, and Ronald James. In 1947 the Muns family moved to Odessa where Ralph and Lee Criswell built the CPA firm, Criswell and Muns. They later merged with an International CPA firm Peat Marwidk Mitchell and Co. He was a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants for over 50 years and past President and charter member of the Permian Basin chapter of Certified Public Accountants. He also served on various committees of the Texas Society and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was the auditor for Ector County Public Schools and Odessa College.

Ralph Muns had been a member of the First Presbyterian Church since 1948, serving as a Deacon, Elder and using his accounting skills, audited the churchs books for many years. Ralph and his son, Bruce, delivered Meals on Wheels regularly until about six months ago.

He was active in the Lions Club, Chuck Wagon Gang, and belonged to Odessa Masonic Lodge No. 955, El Paso Scottish Rite, Odessa Commandory and the El Maida Shrine Temple. He was also a past president of the Maida Shrine Temple.

Dad had a group of friends, called the Cardiac Kids, with whom he played golf several times a week until his fall at 91. Both Ralph and Helen enjoyed traveling. They had an Airstream trailer and succeeded in making it into every state in the continental U.S.A.

Family was very important to Dad. He relished every family reunion and cared greatly for his family and extended family. His wife, Helen, preceded him in death in the year 2000. In 2003, he remarried Juanita Smallwood. She passed away August 29, 2009.

Survivors include his children, Nancy Leonard and husband Dr. Gary, Susan Parker and husband Phil, Roger and his wife Mary Ethel, Bruce, Ron and his wife Lee grandchildren, David Leonard and wife Kerry, Laura Leonard and Lt. Col. Patrick Weeks, Jo Ellen Parker Aldridge and Lance, Pamela Parker, Phillip Parker, Eddie and his wife Chris, Judy Muns Day and her husband Michael, Andy Muns and his wife Kristin, Emily, and Catherine Muns great grandchildren Danielle and Aaron Leonard, Taylor and Allison Weeks, Emma, Parker and Reed Aldridge, Ella Parker, Hayden, Carolyn and Henry Day, Jack and Henry Muns, and countless nieces and nephews.

Ralph Muns was preceded in death by his wife Helen, son John Charles, three sisters, Elva Tetrick, Mary Garner and Lola Walker Zimmerly, two brothers, Frances Red and Arthur Art.

Graveside services will be at 10:00 AM March 25, 2010 at Sunset Memorial Gardens, and a memorial services will be at 2:00 PM Thursday March 25, 2010 at First Presbyterian Church with Jim Longstreet and Greg Hagelstein officiating.

Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church, Meals on Wheels, or to the charity of ones choice.

Service

Memorial Service

First Presbyterian Church
1401 N. Sam Houston
Odessa, TX  79761
Thursday, March 25, 2010
2:00 PM

Graveside Services

Sunset Memorial Gardens
6801 East Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Thursday, March 25, 2010
10:00

Cemetery

Sunset Memorial Gardens
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762

Memorial Contributions

http://www.epartnersingiving.com/ralpheverettmuns
1314 East 5th Street
Odessa, TX  79761


http://www.epartnersingiving.com/ralpheverettmuns
1401 N. Sam Houston
Odessa, TX  79761