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416th Bombardment Group (L) Ralph Joseph Lackner, Jr. 1st Lt, Pilot April 4, 1921 - November 6, 2007 668th Bombardment Squadron (L) |
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Ralph Joseph Lackner, Jr. 1st Lt, Pilot April 4, 1921 - November 6, 2007 668th Bombardment Squadron (L) |
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From the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung:
Ralph Joseph Lackner, Jr., retired Engineer, died peacefully at his home in New Braunfels on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at the age of 86. He was born April 4, 1921 to Austrian immigrant Ralph J. Lackner, Sr. and Emma Hubert. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and New York University. He was a decorated World War II pilot and a member of the Ninth Air Force's "Famous 416th Bombardment Group." Ralph was one of the first pilots to fly the A-26 Invader in attacks over Germany.
On July 2, 1946 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he married Betty Shumaker Lackner and together they raised four children. In 1982, Ralph retired from Exxon after 35 years of service and relocated from Houston to New Braunfels in 1988. He was a devoted husband, proud parent, brilliant engineer and master model railroad maker.
He is survived by his beloved wife Betty of 61 years; son, Ralph Lackner III and wife Linda of Tulsa; three daughters, Nancy Lackner of Lockhart, Lynda Lackner and husband Wray Walker of Wimberley, and Barbra Lackner Nelson of New Braunfels. Other survivors include five wonderful grandchildren, Matthew Lackner Garza, Peter Lackner, Allison Lackner, Lisa Casey and Lesli Wood; and two special great grandsons, Kye and Seth.