Harold Ralph Singer's Obituary
Services for Harold Ralph Singer, 82, of Longview are scheduled for Saturday, February 20, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, Longview, with the Reverends Kevin Wittmayer and Shanna N. Suarez officiating. He passed away at Serenity House on February 17, after a lengthy illness where he was surrounded by loving family members.
Singer was born April 13, 1927, in Independence, Kansas, and raised and educated in Indiana. He served his country with the US Navy on the USS Norton Sound AV 11 and the USS Lowndes beginning in 1945, when America claimed victory in WWII, to 1948. Following his service, Singer returned to Indiana where he began his career as a design engineer.
Singer's career ran the design engineer gamut. He worked in the aerospace industry, specifically in the Apollo program, helping to design the propulsion systems of the early rockets. Though his was not a household name, many of the products he helped design are used by millions. Singer helped to design the automatic ice maker and Poulan's gasoline Weed Eater. He also helped design a machine that manufactures trash bags with built-in pull ties. At his favorite job, M&M Mars, he designed a machine that would cut only the best part of the peanut for use in Snicker's candy bars.
Though it gained him little pay, if any, dollhouses were among his finest works. Singer's intricate designs made him a favorite of young families, friends and charitable organizations. He also built model ships and created furniture designs, including the altar and reredos for Annunciation Episcopal Church in Lewisville, Texas.
Singer preferred the company of family and friends to just about any pastime and he was always a crowd favorite with his wit and charm. For most of his life, whenever a piano was in the room, he filled the space with music. Whether the listener wanted Moonlight Sonata or Moon River, he knew how to make the ivory keys sing. Though his illness weakened him, it never claimed his infectious smile or sharp sense of humor ? even as the end of his journey neared.
Singer was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Harold and Vada Viola Cochran; Ruth MacDonald Singer, who was his wife and mother of their seven children; his son, Christopher Allen; grandson Matthew Paul McLane; and a great-grandson, Grant Maxwell Toliver.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years and the love of his life, Bonnie Neal Singer. He is also survived by daughters Ruth Ann Singer Schmidt and husband Larry of Poteet, Jo Ellen McLane of Corpus Christi, Mary Singer Riley of Waco, and Katherine Ann Singer of The Colony, and his sons Joseph Edward Singer and wife Jana of China Spring, Scott Andrew Singer of Watauga, Robert Bruce Singer of Waco, and Thomas Martin Singer of Lake O' the Pines. Completing his family were his two step-children whom he loved as his own, Kylene Neal Beers and husband Brad of The Woodlands, and Eric Clark Neal of The Colony. His grandchildren include Ty Wesley Hardin of Hallsville, Adam John Holland and wife Catherine of Longview, Kendra Jan Toliver and husband Scott of White Oak, Michael Paul McLane of Applington, Iowa, Sarah Stevens of Austin, Elizabeth Jean Riley and Jonas Neil Riley of Waco, Matthew Chase Singer of Waco, Kendel Ashton of The Colony, Cameron Harrison Browne and Erin Elizabeth Browne of The Colony, Meredith Beers of New Orleans, Baker Beers of Philadelphia, and Richard Neal of Tyler. His great-grandchildren include Christopher Wesley Holland, Alexandra Lee Holland, Jackson Owen Toliver, and Davis Holland Toliver. Special friends include Kathy Neal of The Colony, Wayne Guest of Granbury, and Dr. Gail Stockman of Kalispell, Montana.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Cox of Serenity House, the staff of Beacon Hospice, and the loving neighbors of the Tealwood neighborhood. Their loving care and support helped Singer and the family through the last several weeks.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Trinity Episcopal Church, 906 Padon, Longview 75601 or the Beacon Hill Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 5908, Longview 75608.
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