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Poindexter, Harold "Ralph", D.D.S

October 31, 1923 –
 April 28, 2018

Obituary

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, age 94, passed away on Saturday the 28th of April after a short illness. A “true gentleman” of the Greatest Generation, Ralph, Papa, Dad or “Doc” as he was known by his many friends and family, was born in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, on October 31, 1923, to Leonard and Zula Fain Poindexter. Ralph grew up during the depression on a cotton farm. In his own words, “It was a hard life, but we didn’t know any different.” As a result, Ralph only finished the 10th grade before quitting school to work on the family farm. At the start of WWII, Ralph helped build the Walnut Ridge Army Air Field. He fondly remembered the first 13 training planes arriving there, flown in by women. This inspired his lifelong love for airplanes and his enlistment in the Army Air Corp in 1943. Trained as a mechanic on B-17s and B-29s, he was stationed several places, but eventually landed in San Antonio, Texas, where he met the love of his life, Alene Fusselman, at a service club dance. In 1946, Ralph was honorably discharged and moved to Michigan to work with family. Once there, he decided he needed an education and returned to Arkansas to finish high school. Upon graduation in 1948, he went back to Texas and married Alene that September. Later that fall, he enrolled at Arkansas State University on the GI bill and graduated in three years with a B.S. degree in biology. In 1952, he entered Baylor Dental School in Dallas and graduated in the class of 1956. Ralph relocated the family to Lantana, Florida, to start a dental practice with his uncle in Lake Worth. Ralph and Alene spent 10 wonderful years in Florida, enjoying their five children, friends and church family. In 1966, the family moved back to Texas to ensure a college education for the five children. They made their home in Richardson, where Ralph practiced dentistry for 21 years. Upon his retirement, he passed the practice on to his eldest son, Jerry, who practiced in Richardson for another 30 years. To the end, Ralph never lost his sense of humor, his wide smile, or his easy going, appreciative nature. He was a loyal man who always enjoyed helping others. Over his lifetime, he was involved in many civic and religious organizations, held many leadership positions, and received many awards. Most recently, he volunteered at the Richardson Senior Center and Twin Rivers Senior Living. He was a member of CARE Church (Richardson East Church of Christ) for more than 45 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert F. Poindexter; and a son, Jerrell R. Poindexter, DDS. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Alene E. Poindexter; sister Isabelle and Morris Frazier of Houston; four children: daughter Carol and Andy Parcel of Carrollton; daughter Jane and Joe McManus of Katy; daughter Joyce and Bill Anthony of Garland; son John and Dana Poindexter of Richardson; 10 grandchildren; six great-granddaughters; 11 nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 19th at 10 a.m. at CARE Church (Richardson East Church of Christ), 1504 E. Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas 75081. The burial will be held at Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to Honor Flight DFW (www.honorflightdfw.org) at 2201 Long Prairie Rd., Suite 107, PMB 376, Flower Mound, TX 75022 or to CitySquare (www.citysquare.org) at 4000 East Side Ave., Dallas, TX 75226. Arrangements are under the direction of ARIA Cremation Service and Funeral Home 19310 Preston Road Dallas, Texas 75252 214-306-6700

    JoAnn Williams
    5 May 2018
    4:53pm

    I was so sorry to hear about Mr. Ralph. He was always a pleasant person. Enjoyed him when they visited
    Arkansas and our church.
    R.I.P. Thanks for enriching our lives. Prayers for his wife and familu.

    Ginger Feilf
    5 May 2018
    5:53pm

    My deepest sympathies to the family of Ralph Poindexter. I remember many fun times when he and Alene would come to visit in Walnut Ridge and I would be at his niece, Brenda’s house. I especially remember his “warm” smile. Love to all his family!

    Steve and Maureen Frost
    5 May 2018
    8:11pm

    We are so sorry for your loss. Dr. Poindexter had an incredible life and I was happy to have met him. We will keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time.

    jack alphin
    5 May 2018
    8:28pm

    Doc, you were my good friend for many years and I will miss you

    Don Bell
    5 May 2018
    8:46pm

    Praying God’s Peace comfort you. Don

    Donna,Kiker
    5 May 2018
    9:05pm

    Yourfamily is in my thoughts and prayers! Love Donna

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"I can’t say enough about how helpful and professional Dusty Martin, the funeral director at the Aria Cremation location on NW Highway has been. From my initial call, he was kind and informative. My friend died at home while on hospice and she was picked up in about an hour after receiving the call from the hospice nurse. The person who arrived to pick her up was also very professional/respectful and allowed us to take as much time with her as we wished. When I met with Dusty the next day about arrangements, he explained the process and options available without being pushy or trying to “sell” extras. Throughout the process, he kept me informed and, for example, was careful to be certain I understood the cost of the obituary I wanted and offered some options for reducing that cost if I wished. When I stopped by for another reason and started talking about some of the problems I was having with the pictures and media I hoped to use at a memorial lunch I was planning, he not only listened patiently but offered technology advice and let me use his personal media player. I have had experience arranging cremations for four others using two other local companies, and this experience with Dusty at Aria has been by far the best one I have had."
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"My Daddy’s service and our family experience at Aria Northwest Highway was truly blessed. Funeral Director Dustin Martin is the kind of person that you would like to see on a more regular basis – but in his industry – you hope to not see him that often. That being said – THANK YOU DUSTIN for your unending kindness, compassion and friendship through the process. Meeting you and discussing Dallas History, Find A Grave and my Dad’s lifelong contributions to the great City of Dallas was simply wonderful! In memory of my dad James A. Dodd, Sr. – I want to personally thank you and let you know that you made everything better in that moment. Your calling to “Be There” is spot on. Aria has a one in a million guy in you! Bling Blinky of TEXAS Shout Out: God Bless You!!"
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